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Reason why the new Nigeria Defence Minister resigned

Published

11 years ago

March 12, 2014

Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s
cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of
insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass.
Several sources at the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that
Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint
meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a
former senator.
Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top
military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he
summoned them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs
making excuses for their inability to meet with him and his deputy
immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after
keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours,
the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up
alone for a meeting.
“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told
him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but
Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the
ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he
alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense
Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision
of military officers in the country.
One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr.
Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him
to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator
Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not
going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one
source stated.
Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the
meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to
transmit his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan.
SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the
development, immediately charged Senate President David Mark
with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation.
The president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved
expeditiously.
However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and
refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last
night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja
in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but
Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.
Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive
Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He
reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where
military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders
and him an experienced retired military man.
SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely
that there was what he termed a “slight disagreement,” but added that
there was nothing serious.
An aide to Senator David Mark told SaharaReporters that Mr.
Gusau had sent his letter of resignation to the Senate, which
confirmed him after his nomination. The source added, however, that
Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation letter read because the
senator was still hopeful of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his
post.