Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Since the voluntary resignation of the former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, there have been increased calls from different quarters for the sack of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the scrapping of his office, saying it creates confusion in the chains of command.
One of the groups pushing for that is the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development.
Its executive director, Dr. Sani Shinkafi, joined other Nigerians to urge President Bola Tinubu to sack Matawalle and abolish the office entirely, saying it “weakens Nigeria’s national security architecture.”
Shinkafi, a stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), argued that the dual-minister structure at the ministry creates confusion and undermines effective command and control.
He said a serious military command system should not be split between a senior minister and a junior minister with overlapping responsibilities.
He referenced Matawalle’s recent viral interview, where he stated: “Not all bandits are criminals,” describing the comment as damaging to national security and a clear indication of sympathy for criminal groups.
“That interview depicted him as a bandits’ sympathiser and incapable of crushing them,” Shinkafi said.
He faulted the current defence structure in which critical components are overseen by the Minister of State for Defence.
According to him, the arrangement strips the senior minister of control over key institutions essential to national security.
“Under serious national defence architecture, the command system is not split like what we have in Nigeria,” he said. “The maritime domain, which is very critical to our economy and national security, is handed over to the Minister of State to oversee.
The Pension Board responsible for veterans’ welfare is under the junior minister. Most importantly, the Defence Industries Corporation, which should be the nation’s defence ecosystem for developing and supplying military equipment, is also not under the senior minister.”
Shinkafi expressed absolute confidence in President Tinubu’s nomination of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Minister of Defence.
He said Musa’s track record demonstrates the competence and resolve needed to tackle insecurity nationwide.
He described Musa’s appointment as a wise choice, saying it reflects Tinubu’s commitment to decisively confront terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
“His national acceptance is an eloquent testimony of his patriotism, professionalism, integrity and tenacity of purpose to win the war against terrorism and other criminal elements in Nigeria,” he said.
The APC chieftain also lauded recent security reforms undertaken by the President, including the appointment of new service chiefs, a state of emergency declaration on security, the planned recruitment of 50,000 personnel into the armed forces and the withdrawal of police orderlies from VIPs to boost internal security.
“These are giant steps in combating insecurity across the country,” he said.
Shinkafi decried the increasing wave of attacks, citing the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by insurgents in Borno State and the mass abductions of schoolgirls in Kebbi and Niger states.
He argued that such incidents highlight the need for a seasoned military professional at the helm of the defence ministry.
“It was a mistake to appoint Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, a chartered accountant, as Minister of Defence and Bello Matawalle, who submitted a mere certificate from a vocational training centre for his ministerial screening,” Shinkafi said. “Their lack of experience in complex security issues grossly affected the fight against terrorism, national security and order.”
He urged Nigerians to support General Musa as he assumes leadership of the defence sector, expressing optimism that the new minister would significantly improve the security landscape.