A coalition of northern civic groups has come to the defence of Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), following criticism of comments he made during a recent interview on Channels Television.
The groups, operating under the Citizens Support for Good Governance (CSGG) and Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF), said the minister should not be politically or personally scapegoated over his remarks.
The organisations argued that Musa’s record should be assessed based on his decades of military service, professional career and commitment to national security and unity.
Groups Defend Musa’s Record
The northern civic organisations said attempts to interpret the minister’s comments as a personal attack or politically motivated statement were unfair.
They maintained that Musa had served Nigeria for decades and should be judged based on his professional record.
The groups particularly objected to what they described as selective interpretations of the minister’s remarks.
Their position comes amid political controversy surrounding comments about former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the security situation in the North.
El-Rufai And Security Debate
The controversy has formed part of a wider political debate over insecurity in northern Nigeria and the government’s handling of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
Musa has repeatedly defended the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies while urging Nigerians to support ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Critics, however, have continued to question whether the government’s security claims match the realities experienced by citizens.
Civic Groups Call For Fair Assessment
The groups said Musa’s statements should be evaluated within the context in which they were made rather than interpreted through partisan political lenses.
They urged Nigerians to focus on the broader security challenge rather than turning every disagreement involving security officials into a political confrontation.
Security Remains A Major Political Issue
Security is expected to remain one of the biggest issues ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Federal Government has continued to highlight military operations and security gains, while opposition parties and civil society groups have questioned whether insecurity has reduced sufficiently across the country.
The defence minister’s public comments are therefore likely to continue attracting political scrutiny as the government seeks to demonstrate progress on security.