Paul Ibe, media aide to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has been quietly sidelined within the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The allegation follows the recent appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, a development that has sparked widespread debate over the role and relevance of the NSA’s office.
Some Nigerians have speculated that the newly created Homeland Security position could be designed to diminish the influence of the NSA, fueling reports of a possible rift between Ribadu and the Presidency.
Reacting in a post on X on Wednesday, Ibe claimed that Ribadu’s office had effectively been pushed aside, while suggesting that underlying tensions may have informed the government’s decision.
According to him, Ribadu’s recent trip to the United States may have worsened the alleged fallout after the NSA met with top American officials, including US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“It is no longer news that NSA Nuhu Ribadu has been quietly sidelined, and that a son of the soil, Retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, has been appointed in his stead as Special Adviser on Homeland Security à la US,” Ibe wrote.
He further stated that “a lot of water has passed under the bridge” before the decision was taken, adding that Ribadu’s reported publicity around his US meetings may have contributed to the situation.
“But it is being gathered that the final straw may have been Ribadu’s recent visit to the United States, during which he met VP JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his attempt to make a meal of that by having the news pictures published in multiple newspapers, knowing full well that his principal cannot travel to the US,” he added.
Neither the Presidency nor Ribadu has officially responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
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