A retired military intelligence officer has issued a strong warning to the Presidency, urging it to prevent political interests from compromising Nigeria's defence and security architecture.
Warning Against "Creeping Political Control"
In a detailed assessment provided to The Guardian on Wednesday, Captain Umar Babangida Aliyu (rtd), a national security strategist, expressed deep concern. He stated that recent administrative decisions by President Bola Tinubu's administration risk limiting the effectiveness of the new Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and could undermine confidence within the armed forces.
Aliyu specifically highlighted the retention of Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence in a structure that appears to place him above General Musa. He described this arrangement as "an avoidable organisational misstep" at a critical time when Nigeria is battling insurgents, bandits, and criminal networks.
Musa Deserves a "Clean Slate," Says Expert
While acknowledging that federal cabinet appointments are the President's prerogative, Aliyu argued that General Musa's background makes him uniquely qualified. Having served in counter-insurgency command in the North-East and as Chief of Defence Staff, Musa is seen as "a timely and credible choice" for the portfolio.
The retired officer emphasised that early reactions within the military show confidence in Musa's discipline-driven leadership style. He insisted that the former CDS deserves the freedom to implement necessary reforms without political obstruction or being saddled with a political overseer lacking command experience.
"I find it suspect that a Chief of Defence Staff, who was subordinate to a Minister of State, will now become Minister of Defence and still have that same Minister of State sitting above him," Aliyu stated. He questioned the logic of imposing someone whose antecedents may not align with the strategic goals and professionalism Musa represents.
Risk of Confusion and Eroded Morale
Captain Aliyu explained that the Ministry of Defence operates through established civil-service and bureaucratic processes. The proper support for a newly retired officer like General Musa, he argued, should come from trusted senior civil servants, not a politically imposed deputy.
He issued a stark warning that arbitrary pairings at the highest level of the defence sector "breed confusion, erode morale and send the wrong signals to serving officers." These officers, he noted, already believe that political shortcuts can destroy military careers.
Concluding his intervention, which he stressed was institutional rather than personal, Aliyu urged young officers to resist political patronage. He reaffirmed that the military profession is built on sequence, merit, and credibility. At a time when "Nigeria cannot afford experimentation," he called for giving General Musa a "clean slate" to select a team aligned with his strategic vision for national security.
