President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled the planned special promotion of his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, to the rank of Brigadier-General, following widespread criticism and interventions from senior military figures.
The decision to reverse the promotion came after intense backlash from serving and retired officers, political commentators, and the public, who viewed the elevation—barely a year after Yusuf's promotion to Colonel in December 2024—as a violation of military norms, a threat to professionalism, and a potential blow to morale within the Nigerian Army.
A leaked letter dated December 12, 2025, from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had initially conveyed the President's approval for the "special presidential promotion," with Yusuf set to retain his role as ADC even at the higher rank—a precedent unseen in Nigerian history.
Sources indicate that consultations with senior military officials, including interventions by two respected former Chiefs of Army Staff, persuaded President Tinubu to shelve the plan, citing risks to military discipline and institutional integrity. A Presidency source described the reversal as the President "bowing to superior argument."
Critics, including commentator Mahdi Shehu, had labeled the initial move a "toxic, unilateral assault on professionalism," warning it could demoralize officers and set dangerous precedents. Shehu later commended the reversal as "commendable," showing the President could listen to counsel.
The controversy highlighted tensions between executive authority and established military promotion procedures, with concerns that rapid advancements for close aides could undermine hierarchy and fairness.
No official statement has been released by the Presidency or the Nigerian Army on the reversal, but the development has been widely reported and welcomed by those who raised alarms.
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