Northern coalition defends Christopher Musa over El-Rufai remarks

A coalition of northern civic groups has defended the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), against what it described as attempts to portray his recent interview on Channels Television as a personal attack on former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The coalition, comprising Citizens Support for Good Governance (CSGG) and the Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF), said Musa’s comments during the interview should be understood within the broader context of his record in military service, national security and his consistent advocacy for unity and peaceful coexistence. Blueprint reports

The position was contained in a joint statement issued in Kaduna and signed by the Convener of CSGG, Dr Olumide Olayinka Adeosun, and President of ACCF, Comrade Hamis Danbaba Malumfashi.

Groups defend Musa’s record

The organisations argued that attempts to suggest that Musa’s comments were motivated by political ambition or personal animosity ignored his decades-long career in the Nigerian military.

According to them, Musa’s record includes several critical command and operational responsibilities, culminating in his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before his subsequent appointment as Minister of Defence.

The coalition recalled that Musa previously served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East, where he was involved in the military campaign against terrorism and insurgency.

It said President Tinubu, while nominating him as Minister of Defence in December 2025, recognised his extensive experience and service at the highest levels of Nigeria’s defence architecture.

The groups further cited figures attributed to Defence Headquarters, claiming that more than 3,000 terrorists and bandits were neutralised during Musa’s tenure as CDS, while more than 120,000 insurgents surrendered to government authorities.

They also said more than 2,000 kidnapped victims were rescued during the period, alongside the recovery of significant quantities of arms and ammunition.

The coalition maintained that Musa’s transition from the military to political leadership did not diminish his responsibilities, but instead expanded them to include defence policy, military modernisation, personnel welfare and Nigeria’s strategic security partnerships.

Coalition explains El-Rufai comments

On the controversy generated by Musa’s Channels Television interview, the groups acknowledged that the minister spoke frankly about Nigeria’s security challenges, the political environment and developments in Kaduna State.

During the interview, Musa criticised aspects of the administration of former Governor El-Rufai, alleging that some policies adopted under the administration contributed to divisions within the state.

He also spoke positively about the efforts of the incumbent governor, Senator Uba Sani, particularly regarding reconciliation and social cohesion.

However, CSGG and ACCF rejected the interpretation that the minister’s comments amounted to a personal vendetta against El-Rufai.

The coalition said Musa’s reference to the former governor’s approach as “misguided” should be viewed within the context of his broader argument for political leadership capable of uniting citizens rather than deepening divisions.

It urged Nigerians to assess the substance of the minister’s claims against available evidence instead of accepting or rejecting them simply because of the identity of the person who made them.

Calls for verification of claims

The organisations also urged journalists, analysts and other commentators to return to the original materials referenced during the interview, including speeches, interviews and publicly available videos, before drawing conclusions about Musa’s claims.

According to the coalition, the minister was referring to materials in which El-Rufai himself had publicly discussed aspects of his administration’s policies, particularly issues relating to security and governance.

It therefore called for a fact-based assessment of the claims and urged the media to provide sufficient context when reporting contentious statements involving public officials.

The groups, however, drew a distinction between criticism of public policy and allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing.

They cautioned that claims involving deliberate involvement in killings or other serious offences should not be treated as established facts unless they are supported by credible investigations or determined through appropriate judicial proceedings.

Security requires more than military action

The coalition also recalled Musa’s long-standing advocacy for a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity.

It said his military career demonstrated an emphasis on community engagement, cooperation with traditional rulers and state governors, as well as efforts to strengthen public confidence in security institutions.

According to the groups, Musa has maintained a similar position since becoming Minister of Defence, repeatedly emphasising that national security cannot be addressed through military operations alone.

They said his approach recognises the need to tackle some of the underlying conditions that create vulnerability to insecurity, including hopelessness, weak democratic values and other systemic challenges.

The coalition argued that such an approach should be considered when assessing Musa’s public statements and interventions on security and governance.

Groups warn against politicising security debate

CSGG and ACCF warned against allowing political disagreements to transform into personal attacks or partisan propaganda, stressing that public officials should remain open to scrutiny while their critics should equally be required to substantiate their claims.

The groups said Musa, as Minister of Defence and a former military chief, has a responsibility to speak on matters affecting national security, adding that his comments should be subjected to constructive scrutiny rather than dismissed outright as political attacks.

They also urged political actors and commentators to distinguish between legitimate criticism of government policies and attempts to undermine individuals through unsubstantiated allegations.

The coalition maintained that public debate on security and governance would be better served when arguments are supported by verifiable facts and credible evidence.

Call for evidence-based debate

The organisations called on the media and Nigerians generally to examine the substance of the minister’s Channels Television interview within the context of his broader record in public service.

They urged stakeholders to avoid relying solely on social media interpretations and partisan narratives, saying such approaches could distort important conversations about Nigeria’s security challenges.

The coalition ultimately called for an evidence-based debate on the country’s security and governance, saying Musa should be assessed on the basis of his record, policies and contributions to national security rather than political labels.

It maintained that disagreement with a former or serving political leader should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of personal hostility, particularly when the issues being discussed concern public policy and the security of citizens.

According to the groups, the priority should be to interrogate the issues raised by Musa, verify the available evidence and ensure that discussions around Nigeria’s security challenges contribute to national unity rather than further polarisation.