By Akinwale Kasali
A Northern Group, Arewa Action Group, AAG, has scored the performance of Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Defence, below average.
The Group issued a damning assessment of Badaru, and accused him of gross incompetence. It proceeded to declare his office “technically vacant” in the face of worsening insecurity in the Northern Region.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ibrahim Adamu Bature, the AAG expressed deep frustration over what it described as Badaru’s “utter cluelessness, lack of coordination, and commercial mindset” in handling one of the most sensitive roles in the nation’s security architecture.
The AAG said that for all practical purposes, the office of the Minister of Defence should be declared vacant.
It added that Badaru has not shown any intellectual capacity, strategic seriousness, or political coordination required to confront the scale of insecurity Nigeria is currently facing.
The statement reads: “His continued stay in office is a grave disservice to the Country and especially to people in Northern communities being slaughtered daily without response.”
The Group lamented that despite occupying such a critical post, Badaru has failed to provide any concrete roadmap or vision for strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture or synchronise efforts across the armed forces, intelligence services, and the political leadership.
“This is a Minister who behaves more like a merchant of contracts than a custodian of national security. His background in procurement and State-Level Politics does not qualify him to lead a Ministry that should be defining the strategic and operational directions of our military in a time of war”.
According to the Arewa Action Group, the Defence Minister’s lacklustre performance has coincided with a sharp deterioration of security across the North, from Sokoto to Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, and Borno states.
It also stated that the absence of a firm Civilian oversight of Military operations has created a vacuum being exploited by terrorists, bandits, and insurgents.
“Insecurity has worsened because there is no political leadership at the top of the Defence Ministry.
“Service Chiefs are left to operate in silos. No one is setting a clear agenda or holding anyone accountable. What we are seeing is a Ministry of Defence reduced to the execution of fencing contracts and furniture procurement, not one fit for the battlefield,” the statement added.
The Group added that while President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment by enhancing military funding and initiating new security collaborations with regional partners, these efforts are being undermined by the “absence of competent civilian leadership” at the Ministry of Defence.
“President Tinubu must act now to rescue the Defence Ministry from the grip of passivity. He needs a serious-minded person who understands strategy, who can liaise with Service Chiefs, brief the President candidly, engage the National Assembly robustly, and reassure Nigerians that this Government is in charge,” the statement noted.
The AAG further warned that with the security architecture failing in the North and morale among Soldiers and citizens alike wearing thin, the stakes are too high for mediocrity and political appointments that prioritise loyalty over performance.
“This is not a ceremonial post. Nigerians need a Defence Minister who is present, proactive, and politically mature to align the military’s efforts with civilian expectations,” the group insisted.
It, therefore, passed a vote of no confidence in Minister Badaru and called on President Tinubu to immediately appoint a more qualified and serious individual with the competence and will to lead the Ministry of Defence.
“Nigeria is at war. This is not the time for trial-and-error leadership. We call on Mr. President to put the interest of Nigerians above politics”, the statement emphasized.
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