New Details Reveal Why Former Defence Minister Badaru Stepped Down

Information on former Defense Minister Badaru Abubakar’s abrupt resignation after barely two years in office has surfaced.

Although Badaru stated that his resignation was due to health issues, sources suggest that a long-running cold war between him and Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, was a major factor.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu promptly named retired General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defense Staff, as the new Minister of Defense following Badaru’s formal resignation on Monday.

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy, acknowledged in a statement that Badaru’s resignation was due to ill health.

But according to Saturday Punch’s investigation, Badaru’s resignation was actually caused by a long-standing disagreement with Matawalle.

After serving two terms as governor of Jigawa State, Badaru was appointed on August 21, 2023, mostly due to his administrative background and regional clout in the North West, an area beset by growing insurgency and banditry.

Badaru was supposed to concentrate on counterterrorism efforts, intelligence reforms, and military modernization after his appointment.

In order to assist Badaru in carrying out defense policy, Matawalle was appointed on the same day as Minister of State for Defense.

However, as the nation’s security situation deteriorated in recent weeks, tensions between the two leaders increased. The Defense Ministry was under tremendous strain due to the rise in terrorism and banditry as well as the widespread kidnappings of youngsters.

Public and international scrutiny increased as a result of the student kidnappings and the growing insecurity, particularly after President Tinubu declared a national security emergency.

Nigeria’s leadership was also under pressure from the international world, especially the Trump administration. Due to the widespread murders of Christians in Nigeria that were purportedly connected to rebels, the United States re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in late October.

As public indignation grew, some commentators and citizens started advocating for Badaru’s dismissal. He eventually resigned on December 1st, citing health issues as the official reason, as a result of this pressure.

Sources Indicate Tensions Behind the Scenes
According to many military insiders in the Defence Ministry who spoke with Saturday Punch, Badaru’s departure was a result of his tense relationship with Matawalle rather than just health issues.

The two ministers had a friendly public relationship, but their private exchanges were tense, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Although they seemed to get along well in public, Matawalle and Badaru had a chilly relationship for the majority of the time he served as minister. However, the official stated, “It is a known fact that they had something against themselves.”

He claimed that some facets of the ministry’s operations, such as media coordination, were impacted by the conflict.

Some of their work was impacted by this. Do you think the media unit is well-coordinated, even as a journalist? Did it operate this way prior to their arrival?

“It shouldn’t have happened in the first place to pair the two as ministers,” he continued.

According to a second military source, Matawale was thought to have a close relationship with the president and to be taking over the ministry.

According to the source, several All Progressives Congress party leaders saw Matawale as a political asset for the current government, especially in the country’s northwest.

Matawale has a significant political influence in Zamfara State, where he is from. He is viewed by APC officials as a potential asset in the 2027 election. They therefore consistently support him. He has the connections and political support.

However, Badaru lacks political strength. The source clarified that the administration does not genuinely take him into consideration when it comes to politics and power struggles.