Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, who is seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has suggested that National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has been quietly marginalized by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This allegation surfaces amid the recent appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
The creation of the Homeland Security role has stirred debate, with many Nigerians interpreting it as a potential replacement for the NSA’s office, hinting at a possible rift between Ribadu and the presidency. Ibe, in a post on X on Wednesday, asserted that Ribadu’s office has been effectively sidelined, linking the development to the NSA’s trip to the United States.
According to Ibe, the final trigger for Tinubu’s decision may have been Ribadu’s meetings with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during that visit. He accused Ribadu of publicizing these meetings through newspaper publications, despite knowing that the president himself cannot travel to the US. Ibe’s comments underscore growing speculation about tensions within the administration.