The strength of any democracy is not measured by the rhetoric of its leaders, but by the integrity of its institutions.
When the pillars of national security—the Military, the DSS, and the Nigeria Police Force—begin to reflect the image of a tribe rather than the map of a nation, the foundation of the state itself begins to vaporize.
In a recent discourse, Comrade Adedamola Adetayo raised vital concerns regarding this trend. While I align with the core of his frustrations, we must ensure our arguments are anchored in the bedrock of historical accuracy. Facts are sacred; they are the only currency that retains its value in the heat of a national crisis.
● Correcting the Historical Record
Comrade Adetayo asserted that no Deputy Inspector General (DIG) has ever ascended to the position of Inspector General of Police (IGP). This is factually incorrect. History remembers DIG Ogbonna Onovo, a distinguished officer from Enugu State.
In 2009, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed Onovo as IGP following the recommendation of the late Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame—a proud son of Bauchi who understood that merit knows no borders. We must guard against the distortion of history. When we erase the milestones of the past, we weaken our ability to demand similar standards in the present.
● The Buhari Legacy and the Tinubu Continuum
However, the broader point regarding the “ethnicization” of our institutions cannot be ignored. The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari arguably institutionalized a culture of “tenure elongation” for handpicked kinsmen within the security architecture.
This practice did more than just block the promotion of deserving officers; it signaled to the Nigerian people that loyalty to an ethnic identity was more valuable than loyalty to the Constitution.
President Bola Tinubu campaigned on the promise of “Renewed Hope,” yet his current trajectory suggests a “Renewed Continuity” of these divisive patterns.
If an administration casts the nation’s security leadership in the exclusive likeness of one ethnic group, it inadvertently aids the disintegration of the very state it seeks to lead. You cannot build a pan-Nigerian identity on a foundation of exclusionary appointments.
● The Cost of Selective Outrage
Nepotism is not the trademark of a single party or region; it is a systemic rot that has haunted Nigeria for decades. It breeds distrust, kills morale within the ranks, and ultimately leads to the institutional inefficiency we see today.
When we lose officers like DIG Frank Mba—a lawyer, an academic, and a seasoned professional who served with undeniable diligence—to the vagaries of political and ethnic maneuvering, the loss belongs to Nigeria, not just the individual.
● A Call for National Rebirth
If Nigeria is to survive this era of “vaporization,” we must move beyond selective outrage. We need a collective rebirth of true nationalism. Our institutions must be blind to faith and tongue, focusing instead on the competence required to secure a nation under siege.
We must debate passionately, but we must also speak truthfully. Nigeria does not need convenience; it needs honesty. Until we commit to country above tribe, we will continue to recycle the same complaints while the foundation of our house continues to crumble.
■ Dr. Drama, PhD Counterterrorism contributed this piece via: Nigeriandrama@gmail.com
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