President Tinubu begins the search for a new Tinubu Defence Minister after Badaru Abubakar resigns suddenly on health grounds
President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja began the process of appointing a new Minister of Defence after outgoing minister Badaru Abubakar resigned abruptly on health grounds in a letter dated 1 December.
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According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu accepted the resignation immediately and expressed appreciation for Abubakar’s service.
The Presidency signalled that the Senate will be notified of a successor later this week, indicating that the selection process is already in motion.
Abubakar, aged 63, previously served two terms as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before joining the federal cabinet on 21 August 2023.
His departure arrives at a delicate moment for the administration as it confronts escalating insecurity nationwide.
Tinubu last week declared a national security emergency and introduced measures that include recruiting twenty thousand additional police officers, deploying forest guards and bolstering protection for schools, churches and mosques identified as vulnerable.
These initiatives were announced amid criticism from some commentators who had argued that Abubakar was not the right figure to lead the defence portfolio.
Hours before the resignation became public, Tinubu held a private meeting at the State House with former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, retired on 24 October.
Musa arrived at 7.03 pm, dressed in dark-green northern-style traditional attire, before proceeding to the President’s office wing.
The purpose of the meeting was not confirmed, but it intensified speculation about contenders for the defence role.
Abubakar’s exit adds fresh urgency to the government’s efforts to stabilise the security environment, with expectations that Tinubu will appoint a successor capable of delivering rapid and effective reforms.
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The reshuffle represents a pivotal moment for the administration as it seeks to project resolve and maintain public confidence during a period of heightened national concern.
