Inside Aso Rock: The Reason Why Ex-CDS Musa May Be President Tinubu’s Surprise Choice To Replace Badaru

Strong indications suggest that former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has emerged as the frontrunner to become Nigeria’s next Minister of Defence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This comes on the heels of the unexpected resignation of Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

According to top security insiders who spoke with Western Post, General Musa’s Monday evening visit to the Presidential Villa—his first since his exit from service—is closely tied to high-level consultations over who will occupy the now-vacant defence seat.

The retired general, dressed in traditional northern attire, was received at the Villa and ushered into a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Although the presidency has yet to officially disclose the purpose of the meeting, multiple sources confirm that Musa is being seriously considered as Badaru’s successor.

“Given the times and his vast security background, he is a natural choice,” one source revealed.

Analysts add that appointing Musa would meet long-standing calls for the Defence Ministry to be headed by someone with robust military experience, particularly as the country contends with worsening security threats—including the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, and the abduction of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna.

General Musa was removed as CDS in October amid reports of an alleged aborted coup plot, though no official reason was provided.

His meeting with President Tinubu took place just hours after it was announced that Defence Minister Badaru had stepped down due to health concerns.

President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and is expected to send a new nominee to the Senate before the end of the week.

With the President’s recent declaration of a national security emergency, the appointment of a new Defence Minister is seen as crucial to defining the administration’s security direction.