By Our Reporter
The Niger Delta Solidarity Forum , NSDF and Oodua People’s Network, OPN has condemned the call by Senator Francis Fadahunsi for the removal of the National Security Adviser , NSA , Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu .
In a separate statement released on Thursday, the two bodies, NSDF and OPN, described the statement by the senator Fadahunsi as both unwarranted and an afterthought , asking him to go back to the drawing board and records of previous occupants like Mohammadu Gambo Jimeta and Ismailia Gwarzo .
According to the NSDF statement issued by it’s Chairman, Secretary and Publicity Secretary, Barrister Andrew Meme, Chief Rowland Abarasi Tamunopiri and Chief Umukoro Joseph Erhimeyoma stated that modern experience against terrorism and cyber crimes or threats required not only military experience, but intelligence, inter agency coordination and indepth experience, which Nuhu Ribadu has demonstrated in the last two years against Senator Fadahunsi’s position, saying the President position recognized multi disciplinary position and posture.
The NSDF further said Senator Fadahunsi’s suggestion amounted to gross politicisation of security appointments, that involves a strengthened intelligent gatherings, synergy and pursuance to the envisaged lasting peace and progress of the country, saying what Nigeria needs is results, and not recycled arguments rooted in outdated assumptions.
Further describing Senator Fadahunsi’s position as shallow , outdated and belonging to the past ,and lacked understanding of modern security, saying his ideas belongs to the past .
In a similar statement, the Oodua People’s Network OPN under the leadership of Chief Olasupo Bamidele, President, Chief Emmanuel Adesokan, National Secretary, Mr Kehinde Olasope, Director of Organization, said they won’t join issues with Senator Fadahunsi, as he has rights to his freedom, but expressed shock over his unguarded utterances.
“It’s no gain saying that our country is currently passing through some difficult times and therefore needs our collective efforts to salvage it from the clutching feasts of our enemies. This can only be achieved through resolute dedicaton, purposeful leadership and selfless contributions by all citizens to foster nation building.”
“The events of past months have clearly expressed the administration’s resolve in addressing these security challenges championed by the NSA Mal Nuhu Ribadu.”
NIGER DELTA STAKEHOLDERS FORUM ( NDSF)
10, ABONNEMA ROAD, DIOBU MILE 1, PORTHARCOURT, RIVERS STATE
REJOINDER TO SENATOR FADAHUNSI CALL FOR THE SACK OF MALLAM NUHU RIBADU AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER (NSA)
“Senator Fadahunsi’s call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace Mallam Nuhu Ribadu with a retired military officer as National Security Adviser reflects a narrow view of national security leadership.”
“Modern security challenges-ranging from terrorism and cyber-threats to intelligence coordination-require not just military experience but strategic intelligence, inter-agency coordination and policy depth, all of which Mallam Ribadu has demonstrated throughout his career.”
“Ribadu’s track record as a former EFCC Chairman and his longstanding involvement in security and governance reforms show that effective security leadership is not defined solely by military background, but by competence, integrity and the ability to integrate intelligence with security operations.”
“President Tinubu’s choice recognises the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the national security-an approach practiced globally and essential for addressing Nigeria’s evolving threats.”
“Rather than distracting the nation with unnecessary politicisation of security appointments, leaders should support efforts already underway to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve operational synergy and pursue lasting peace across the country. ”
“What Nigeria needs is results, not recycled arguments rooted in outdated assumptions.”
“Senator Fadahunsi’s suggestion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should replace Mallam Nuhu Ribadu with a retired military officer as NSA exposes a shallow and outdated understanding of modern national security leadership. The idea that only a soldier can manage national security belongs to the past.”
“Today’s security environment demands intellect, intelligence capability, strategic coordination and integrity – qualities Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has demonstrated for decades.”
“Ribadu’s leadership is anchored in deep experience in intelligence, anti-corruption enforcement, inter-agency collaboration and counter-terrorism and policy competencies that many retired officers do not possess.”
“Security is no longer about who can wear a uniform; it’s about who can analyse threats, dismantle complex criminal networks and coordinate civilian and military structures effectively.”
“Senator Fadahunsi should also be reminded that the world’s most successful democracies do not restrict the role of National Security Adviser to military officers.”
“In fact, they deliberately appoint seasoned civilians, technocrats, or intelligence professionals: These nations understand that modern security strategy is intelligence-driven, analysis-driven, and coordination-driven, not rank-driven.”
“President Tinubu’s appointment of Ribadu aligns with global best practice. Leaders like Senator Fadahunsi should focus on supporting the reforms already strengthening Nigeria’s intelligence architecture.”
“Nigeria needs competence, strategy, and results-not old stereotypes disguised as advise.”
“National modern security is driven by intelligence, strategy, and coordination, not by military rank.”
“Mallam Nuhu Ribadu embodies the skills Nigeria needs: proven integrity, intelligence expertise and deep experience in dismantling criminal networks.”
“Leading democracies understand this. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and even India routinely appoint civilians, diplomats, and intelligence professionals-not retired soldiers-as NSAs.”
“President Tinubu’s choice aligns with global best practice.”
“Nigeria’s security architecture demands brains, credibility and strategic depth-not nostalgia for an era when uniforms were mistaken for solutions.”
“Nigeria needs results.
Ribadu delivers them.”
“Senator Fadunsi’s claim that only a retired soldier can be NSA is outdated. Ribadu fits the job.”
“Mallam Nuhu Ribadu brings integrity, intelligence expertise, and decades of experience dismantling criminal networks. That’s what national security leadership requires.”
Ribadu represents the future of national security leadership.
“Security reform requires strategy, not rank. Ribadu remains Nigeria’s best choice as NSA.”
Fadunsi’s argument falls flat.
RIBADU’S COMPETENCE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN POLITICS
“Senator Fadunsi’s call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss Nuhu is not only simplistic-it is dangerously out of touch with global best practices. Modem security-especially, in a complex environment, requires experience, not mere military credentials.”
“It’s all about intelligence, integrity and experience over uniforms. Malam Nuhu Ribadu brings to the table more than a badge or uniform ever could : institutional reform. ”
“A former Police Assistant Inspector-General and ex-Chairman of EFCC, with charitable records of dismantling criminal networks, probing high-profile corruption, banditry, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, and cyber-crime coexist and sometimes overlap-the challenge isn’t just boots on the ground, but thinking ahead, connecting dots, and working across agencies.”
“To insist that only a former soldier can handle these tasks is to mistake the badge for ability.”
“It’s to ignore the reality that threats are increasingly hybrid and cross-sectoral – requiring brains, policy-sense, integrity and coordination capacity.”
“Around the world, civilian and professional NSAs do the job often better hence, global powers long ago moved beyond rank-based assumptions about who can lead national security.”
“Many successful democracies entrust their national security strategies to civilians, technocrats, or caree diplomats-not retired generals.”
“These examples abound because cyber warfare, espionage, transnational crime, terrorism, economic destabilization – are not best handled by military mindsets alone but by intelligence, diplomacy, policy coherence and inter-agency synergy.”
“These countries show that national security leadership is not about putting on a uniform-it’s about sense, strategy and seriousness.”
“Malam Nuhu Ribadu’s appointment as NSA is not a sentimental or poliical choice – it is a strategic, calculated decision grounded in the realities of modern security threats and what Nigeria urgently needs: integrity, intelligence and actionable strategy.”
” Senator Fadunsi’s call for a retired military officer to take over from Mallam Ribadu does not addess the core challenges – it merely recasts old assumptions.”
“In a world where even global powers entrust national security to civilians, diplomats, and technocrats, Nigeria should not cling to outdated stereotypes”.
“Security isn’t about uniforms – it’s about competence.
And on that measure, Ribadu speaks loudest.”
SIGNED:
BARRISTER ANDREW MENE
CHAIRMAN
CHIEF ROWLAND ABARASI TAMUNOPIRI
SECRETARY
CHIEF UMUKORO JOSEPH ERHIMEYOMA
PUBLICITY SECRETARY
OODUA PEOPLES NETWORK (OPN)
NO. 10, OFF OMILABU GANDHI STREET, IYANA-CHURCH, IWO ROAD, IBADAN.
RE: REPLACE RIBADU WITH EX-MILTARY OFFICER AS NSA, SENATOR URGES TINUBU
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Senator representing Osun East in the SENATE, Distinguished Senator Francis Fadahunsi, issued through his Special Adviser on Media, one Sam Segun-Progress on Tuesday 2 December 2025 at Osogbo, the Osun State, capital and published in Punch online and other social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X (formally Twitter) to mention a few.”
“In the statement, the lawmaker urged President Tinubu “to further reorganise the nation’s security management team by appointing a retired military officer as the National Security Adviser.”
” He also advised Mr. President to “redeploy the current NSA Malam Nuhu Ribadu to another area of national service where his competence would be better utilised.”
“While we don’t intend to join issues with the author of the publication as we equally recognise the right of every Nigerian to freedom of speech including Distinguished Senator Francis Fadahunsi, however, it’s disturbing for a Distinguished Senator who commands tremendous respect and goodwill both in and outside the chambers to attempt to throw up a matter as important as our collective national security to the court of public opinion as against using his privileged position to communicate to the President where his position would have been given the desired attention.”
“It’s no gain saying that our country is currently passing through some difficult times and therefore needs our collective efforts to salvage it from the clutching feasts of our enemies. This can only be achieved through resolute dedicaton, purposeful leadership and selfless contributions by all citizens to foster nation building.”
“The events of past months have clearly expressed the admninistration’s resolve in addressing these security challenges championed by the NSA Mal Nuhu Ribadu.”
“Let us equally remind Distinguished Senator Francis that the position of the NSA is not the exclusive reserve of serving or retired military officers. It’s open to all competent Nigerians whom the president has confidence in. It’s on record that from it’s establishment in 1990, the Office of the National Security Adviser was piloted by Late Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta (a retired IGP) as the pioneer Coordinator, National Security (1990-1993) and Alh. Ismaila Gwarzo-a Nigerian high – ranking security and intelligence official (1993-1998) both performed creditably well and adjudged the best. And yet, they were not military officers.”
“Without prejudice, between 1999 to 2023, the office was occupied by 6 different military officers at various times, and yet our national security situation deserves a lot.”
“Therefore, to restrict the Office of the National Security Adviser to a retired military officer potends a total lack of understanding of the national security concept by the Distinguished Senator.”
“If the Distinguished Senator has done a little deligence, he could have found that the most successful National Security Advisers in the USA, UK and other advance
democracies were civilian citizens, while ironically, their military counterparts had the worst administration.”
“Looking at the events leading up to the unfortunate declaration of Country of Particular Concern by the US administration recently, President Tinubu appointed the NSA Mal Nuhu Ribadu to lead a Nigerian high powered deligation to engage with the US team for peaceful resolution of the seeming empass. ”
“His appointment was due to his pedigree and global network outreach as he commands respect within and outside the international intelligence family. ”
“It’s on record that due to his acumen and diplomatic disposition, he has succeeded in attaining a mutual supporting position with the US administration to the relief of our country.”
“To this end, while we will appreciate any further meaningful contribution for the advancement of our great nation from the Distinguished Senator, we would like to advise him to always reflect on his revered position as a Senator of the Federal republic of Nigeria and know the appropriate channel to communicate his contributions for effective utilisation.”