There are fresh calls within security and political circles urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit his 2023 political journey and reward loyalty—particularly among high-ranking security officials who allegedly risked everything to secure his emergence as president.
A well-informed source who spoke on condition of anonymity told NigeriaUpdates that out of the 10 key service chiefs who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and were inherited by Tinubu during his early months in office, three played extraordinary behind-the-scenes roles to ensure that the then-presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was declared winner of the 2023 general election.
“These three men became enemies to their colleagues who wanted to do the bidding of those who never wanted Asiwaju,” the source disclosed. “They blocked the interim government plan allegedly orchestrated by former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Governor Hope Uzodinma, APC’s then National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, and others.”
According to the insider, these military and intelligence officers took significant personal risks, including financial, reputational, and professional, to counter internal threats within government institutions.
“They spent serious amounts of money in hard currencies to thwart hidden agendas by the likes of [former CBN Governor] Godwin Emefiele, [former AGF] Abubakar Malami, and others,” the source added. “Two weeks to the election, they were nearly fired for refusing to shift ground. They fought deadly security and intelligence battles—both locally and internationally—for Asiwaju’s emergence.”
Despite their sacrifices, only one of the three officers has reportedly been rewarded, while the other two have been largely ignored by the current administration.
Security Power Play Ahead of 2027
Observers argue that Tinubu may soon face significant challenges in navigating the complex landscape of Nigeria’s security and intelligence architecture, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general election begin to take shape.
“Asiwaju will find it very difficult to navigate through the security and intelligence power-play owing to the fact that his current Chief of Army Staff doesn’t command the needed followership like the late Lagbaja did,” said the source. “Hence, the need for him to employ the services of some security and intelligence veterans.”
The source further warned that President Tinubu is currently being furnished with “half-baked” intelligence, which may be compromising national security strategy and political calculations.
“To call a spade a spade, Asiwaju is furnished with half-baked intelligence as at today. His opponents are far more enriched with intelligence. Saboteurs are everywhere,” the source claimed.
A Test of Loyalty and Strategy
Political analysts note that how President Tinubu handles the loyalty question among his former security allies could either strengthen or weaken his long-term strategy. The build-up to 2027 is already being monitored by both domestic opposition and international players, and many within his camp believe that re-engaging tested loyalists will be key to survival and success.
Background
The 2023 election was one of Nigeria’s most contentious, with widespread concerns about vote suppression, security breaches, and elite interference. Allegations of plots to derail the democratic process through unconstitutional means, such as an “interim government,” surfaced in the weeks leading up to the election.
While Tinubu’s eventual victory was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), multiple stakeholders have since suggested that it took more than just votes to protect the integrity of the election result.
