Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to replace the nation’s service chiefs, describing it as a wise and timely move, particularly if the alleged coup rumour was true.
President Tinubu had on Friday announced sweeping changes in the leadership of the armed forces as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. The reshuffle included the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other top military officers.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Agbakoba said the president’s action showed firmness and decisiveness that were missing in the previous administration.
“You have a president who is prepared to take tough decisions, and we know that he likes to take tough decisions,” Agbakoba said.
“I think he has done the right thing because his predecessor, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, did not like to make such decisions and allowed his military team to stay far longer than they should have.”
Reports had earlier linked the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration on October 1 to an alleged coup attempt, although the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the claims, insisting the cancellation was unrelated.
Agbakoba, however, said that if such reports had any truth, then the president’s decision to overhaul the military hierarchy was both strategic and justified.
“So, if it is indeed true that there was a rumoured coup, I think he (Tinubu) acted sensibly by doing exactly what he has done,” he said.
“What we want to see now is the impact of that decision.”
The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president emphasised that the move reflects the president’s commitment to proactive governance and national stability.
