Strong indications have arisen that former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retired), is the leading candidate to be named Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence.
This comes after Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar abruptly resigned.
Top security sources told Western Post that General Musa’s Monday evening visit to the Presidential Villa – his first since being dismissed of his position – is directly tied to ongoing negotiations over filling the now-vacant military ministry.
The retired military chief arrived at the Villa clothed in traditional northern costume and quickly joined a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While the presidency has not publicly announced the objective of the meeting, people acquainted with the matter told the aforementioned platform that Musa is strongly being considered as Badaru’s replacement.
According to one source, “his background and experience make him a natural fit at this critical period.”
Analysts argue that his potential appointment would fulfill long-standing demands for the Defence Ministry to be overseen by an individual with deep security expertise, especially as the nation faces escalating security challenges, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, an assault on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, and the kidnapping of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna.
Reports of an alleged failed coup attempt led to General Musa’s dismissal as CDS in October, though no formal explanation was given at the time.
Only a few hours after it was announced that Defense Minister Badaru Abubakar had resigned due to illness, he met with the President.
President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and is expected to present a nominee to the Senate later this week.
With the President’s recent declaration of a national security emergency, the nomination of a new Defence Minister is largely seen as vital to establishing the administration’s security agenda.
Insiders claim that General Musa’s name is now at the top of the list.
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