It was a quiet Monday evening in Abuja when the news broke — a piece of information that would ripple through the corridors of power and shake Nigeria’s defence circles. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, had resigned just like that.
The letter, dated December 1, was short and direct. Addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Badaru explained that his health could no longer keep up with the demands of overseeing the country’s defence sector. The weight of the job, especially during one of Nigeria’s most challenging security periods, had taken its toll.
Inside the State House, President Tinubu received the letter with a mixture of concern and understanding. He knew Badaru well — after all, he had appointed him in August 2023, trusting his experience as a two-term governor of Jigawa State to strengthen Nigeria’s security structure.
Moments later, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, stepped out to prepare a statement.
The nation had to be told.
“President Tinubu has accepted Mohammed Badaru’s resignation and expresses gratitude for his service to the nation,” the statement read. It added that a new Defence Minister would likely be announced later in the week.
But behind the official language, something else was brewing.
Just hours before Badaru’s resignation became public, Christopher Musa — the former Chief of Defence Staff — had been seen walking into Aso Rock. It wasn’t a casual visit. The meeting with the President raised eyebrows, hinting at a deeper shake-up within Nigeria’s defence system.
With insecurity rising across the country, President Tinubu had already declared a national security emergency. Nigerians were waiting for answers, and inside the walls of the villa, important decisions were unfolding.
Badaru’s exit seemed like the first in a line of changes.
At 63, after serving Jigawa from 2015 to 2023 and then stepping into one of the most demanding ministerial roles, Badaru’s time in the spotlight had taken a new turn. Though he stepped down quietly, the timing of his resignation told a bigger story — one of shifting alliances, heightened security concerns, and a presidency preparing for bold moves.
As Nigerians looked on, one question lingered in the air:
Who will take over the defence of the nation?
The answer, President Tinubu hinted, would come soon. And when it does, it may signal the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s fight for security.
