A coalition of northern civic groups has defended the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), against what it described as attempts to scapegoat and politically misrepresent him over his recent interview on Channels Television.
The groups, under the aegis of Citizens Support for Good Governance (CSGG) and the Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF), said Musa should be judged based on his decades of military service, professional record and commitment to national unity rather than what they described as narrow interpretations of his comments.
The position was contained in a joint statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the Convener of CSGG, Dr Olumide Olayinka Adeosun, and the President of ACCF, Comrade Hamis Danbaba Malumfashi.
The coalition said attempts to portray Musa as acting out of political ambition overlooked his long career in the Nigerian military, during which he held several critical command and operational positions.
Before his appointment to political leadership, Musa served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East and was later appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the controversial Channels Television interview, CSGG and ACCF acknowledged that the minister’s comments were frank, particularly his views on Nigeria’s security situation, the political environment and historical developments in Kaduna State.
During the interview, Musa criticised aspects of the administration of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that certain policies contributed to societal division in the state.
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He, however, commended the efforts of the incumbent governor, Senator Uba Sani, towards promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.
The coalition cautioned against interpreting Musa’s comments as a personal vendetta against El-Rufai, noting that the minister used the term “misguided” in describing the governance approach and instead advocated political leadership that promotes unity rather than division.
It urged Nigerians to subject the claims made during the interview to available evidence instead of accepting or dismissing them based solely on the identity of the person who made them.
According to the statement, Musa was referring to publicly available interviews, speeches and videos in which El-Rufai himself discussed his administration’s security policies.
The groups therefore called on journalists and commentators to examine the original materials, verify the statements and consider their full context before reaching conclusions.
At the same time, CSGG and ACCF cautioned against treating allegations involving serious wrongdoing, including claims of deliberate involvement in killings, as established facts without appropriate investigation or formal judicial proceedings.
The coalition also recalled that when President Tinubu nominated Musa as Minister of Defence in December 2025, he explicitly acknowledged his extensive military experience and distinguished service at the highest levels of Nigeria’s defence architecture.
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