Agbakoba Hails Tinubu’s Military Clean-Up, Warns Against Coup Threats

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s bold overhaul of Nigeria’s military leadership, calling it a decisive move to safeguard national security.

The shake-up saw General Olufemi Oluyede appointed as Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa, alongside new service chiefs for the Army, Navy, and Air Force—a development officials described as a strategic effort to strengthen the armed forces and restore public confidence.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Agbakoba said: “Former President Buhari allowed service chiefs to overstay their tenures. President Tinubu acted swiftly when the situation demanded it.”

He added that the move, while seen by some as a response to rumours of a coup, was a prudent step to reinforce discipline and trust within the military. “If there was a real threat, the president was right to act fast. No leader should gamble with national security,” he stressed.

Agbakoba also warned against any attempt to return Nigeria to military rule, describing it as a dangerous path that could undo democratic progress.

In the same interview, he highlighted his policy paper, Devolution is the Solution, advocating a new constitution to give more power to states and local governments. Agbakoba argued that over-centralisation in Abuja has stifled efficiency, making governors and local officials overly dependent on federal funds.

He proposed fiscal federalism, allowing each level of government to control its own resources—a move that could generate between ₦25 trillion and ₦35 trillion annually—and urged President Tinubu to personally lead constitutional reform efforts, citing decades of failed attempts by the National Assembly and national conferences.

“True progress for Nigeria requires bold leadership paired with a political structure that empowers all levels of government,” he concluded.