Details have emerged on the circumstances surrounding sudden resignation of former Defence minister Badaru Abubakar
President Tinubu swore in former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa as the new Defence Minister
Rising insecurity and political pressure intensified scrutiny on Badaru’s leadership before his exit
Findings indicated that a long-running rift with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, played a major role in his exit.
Badaru resigned on Monday, December 1, after two years in office, with the Presidency initially attributing the decision to health concerns.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had said the former minister stepped down due to “poor health”.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently swore in a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), as the new Minister of Defence.
However, investigations revealed that Badaru’s resignation followed months of strained relations between him and Matawalle, a development that was allegedly kept away from public view.
According to Punch, two senior military sources disclosed that although both ministers maintained a cordial public appearance, their working relationship had been strained for most of Badaru’s tenure.
“Matawalle and Badaru had a frosty relationship for most of the period he was minister, although they appeared cool with each other in public. But it is a known fact here that they had issues with each other,” one official said.
The source added that the tension affected coordination within the ministry, including media management and operational harmony.
“Pairing the two together as ministers is something that ought not to have happened in the first place,” the official added.
Another source said Matawalle’s growing influence within the political structure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) further weakened Badaru’s standing.
“Matawalle has strong political backing within the APC, especially in the North West. He is seen as an asset for 2027. But Badaru was weak politically. The presidency did not really reckon with him in the power calculation,” the source also told Punch.
Badaru, a former Jigawa state governor, was appointed on 21 August 2023, with expectations that he would use his administrative experience to tackle escalating insecurity in the North West.
However, renewed bandit attacks, mass school abductions and rising public criticism placed his leadership under intense scrutiny. The pressure intensified after President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency.
The situation also attracted international attention, with the United States redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged mass killings of Christians.
Amid mounting outrage and internal friction within the ministry, Badaru tendered his resignation on 1 December 2025.
