A former commander of the Nigerian Army's Special Forces has made a strong appeal for the nation's military community to unite in support of the new Minister of Defence, General Christopher G. Musa. The call was made by Maj-Gen. Moundhey Gadzama Ali (retd), the pioneer Special Forces Commander, on 4 December 2025.
A Call for Collective Action Against Insecurity
Ali stated that ending Nigeria's persistent security problems requires the unified backing of both serving and retired senior officers for the Defence Minister. He emphasized that the task before General Musa is enormous and will demand practical contributions, cooperation, and honest advice from experienced personnel, rather than silent observation or political maneuvering.
He specifically urged all retired generals, Infantry officers, and members of the Special Forces community to actively propose solutions. This, he believes, will strengthen the minister's ability to defeat the triple threats of terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
Advice for Musa and a Warning on Sycophancy
Describing Musa as a long-time friend and trusted colleague, Ali offered him direct counsel. He advised the minister to remain firm, focused, and immune to flattery, pointing out that Nigeria's security crisis is sustained by powerful interests.
In a bold statement, Ali urged General Musa to confront the sponsors and enablers of criminal networks "no matter whose ox is gored." He linked Musa's potential success directly to the collective support from the officer corps, especially with Nigeria still fighting insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and emerging threats in other regions.
Critique of Appointment Culture and Intelligence Failures
The retired senior officer also criticized the prevalent culture of political patronage and weak accountability in the appointment of public officials. He warned that Nigeria must embrace transparency and merit to gain global respect and achieve better governance.
Furthermore, Ali took a swipe at security agencies for sometimes failing to present or act on available intelligence during screening processes for appointments. He stated that such lapses seriously undermine the country's credibility.
"The world has gone beyond the sentiments of 'my townsman.' This is the time of transparency, honesty, commitment and discharging one’s duties without prejudice before loyalty," he declared.
Ali's comments come at a time of high expectations for General Musa, who recently retired as Chief of Defence Staff. Many hope he will leverage his extensive experience in joint operations, counter-terrorism, and military reform to make a significant impact in his new civilian role as Defence Minister.
