Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has challenged the official narrative surrounding the resignation of Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, claiming President Bola Tinubu compelled him to step aside, contrary to reports citing health challenges.
Badaru had reportedly tendered his resignation on Monday due to undisclosed health issues.
Sowore’s Counter-Claim and Allegations
In a Facebook post, Sowore alleged that the resignation was orchestrated to create a vacancy for the appointment of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as the new Defence Minister.
Sowore also claimed that the Federal Government is currently under international pressure to dismiss the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, due to worsening security concerns and alleged conflicts of interest.
Sowore stated:
“The useless Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, did not resign. He was asked by AAsiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubuto step aside to make room for former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa to be appinted Defence Minister.
There are also strong indications that US President Donald Trump’s United States military is pressing for the removal of the equally ineffective and utterly useless Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, citing serious concerns over intelligence sharing and collaboration.
Matawalle is widely accused of having links to bandits in Zamfara!”
Neither the Presidency nor the Ministry of Defence has officially responded to these allegations.