Sh*ck Exit: Real Reason Behind Ex-Defence Minister Badaru’s Sudden Resignation Exposed

Fresh insights have surfaced regarding the abrupt resignation of former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, barely two years into his appointment.

Although Badaru publicly attributed his exit to health challenges, insider reports suggest that a long-running power struggle between him and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, played a decisive role in his departure.

Badaru’s resignation was officially submitted on Monday, prompting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately name retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as his successor.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development, insisting that the former minister stepped down solely for health-related reasons.

However, findings by Saturday Punch indicate that a deep-seated rift with Matawalle was largely responsible for Badaru’s decision to bow out.

Appointed on August 21, 2023, after serving two terms as governor of Jigawa State, Badaru was brought into the Defence Ministry to strengthen military reforms and influence stability across the North-West—one of the regions hardest hit by banditry and terror attacks.

Matawalle, also appointed on the same date, was meant to support defence policy implementation as Minister of State. But as insecurity spiraled across the country, their working relationship reportedly deteriorated rapidly.

The resurgence of terrorism, large-scale school kidnappings, and escalating bandit attacks brought intense public scrutiny and criticism, made worse by President Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency.

International pressure also mounted, with the United States—under the Trump administration—reclassifying Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over widespread killings attributed to extremist elements.

Amid mounting outrage at his perceived ineffectiveness, many Nigerians began demanding Badaru’s removal. Though the government publicly framed his resignation on December 1 as health-related, sources claim political tension forced his hand.

Internal Conflicts Revealed

Defence Ministry insiders told Saturday Punch that the conflict between both ministers was well known behind closed doors.

One top official, who requested anonymity, described their relationship as outwardly cordial but privately strained:

“They were never aligned. Everyone here knew there was friction, even if they acted friendly in public.”

The source said the discord affected administrative and media coordination within the ministry, adding that pairing both men in the same leadership structure was a flawed decision from the outset.

Another insider alleged that Matawalle’s close ties with key figures in the presidency made him increasingly dominant, undermining Badaru’s authority.

He added that All Progressives Congress (APC) power brokers view Matawalle—who wields strong influence in Zamfara—as a crucial political asset ahead of the 2027 elections:

“Matawalle has the backing and political weight. Badaru doesn’t. He was always the weaker one in the power equation.”