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The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa(rtd), has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure a second term in 2027, declaring that the President’s return to office is not in doubt.
Musa spoke on Sunday in Abuja during the inauguration of national and sub-national structures of the Directorate of Security and Intelligence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He said the immediate priority was to establish a secure environment for the President’s re-election campaign, stressing that security would be critical to the party’s preparations.
“The return of Mr President is not an issue that we should even start worrying about, because God’s willing, he is coming back. The task before us now is to provide the enabling environment for it to happen,” he said.
The minister urged the directorate to prioritise public safety and ensure that campaign activities were peaceful across the country.
“We must do everything possible to make sure that Nigeria is safe and secure. And our campaigns are peaceful and safe, because I think that is the most critical aspect of what we do,” he added.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, reaffirmed the party’s position that Tinubu’s re-election was “non-negotiable”. He was represented at the event by the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana.
Kana praised the directorate for establishing its structures quickly, saying the party could learn from the discipline, organisation and efficiency of the military.
He charged its members to ensure that campaign venues and routes were secure before, during and after political events.
“Before we leave, you must clear the path; you must confirm to us that the venue is safe. When we are there, you must ensure that we are safe and protected. When we leave, you must ensure that the paths and roads are secure,” he said.
The Director of Intelligence and Security of the council, Major General Sarkin Yaki Bello (retd.), urged members to discharge their duties within the law, stressing that their responsibility extended to protecting the public.
“Our duty is to protect Mr President and the people, and not to threaten them, to preserve order, not to create fear, and to support a peaceful democratic process,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa (retd.), also emphasised the importance of security in preventing disorder during the electioneering period.
“Without security, what you have is chaos, and chaos is not what we need at this time. And our job is to make the process safe and secure,” he said.
Former Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of Operations and Field Coordination of the directorate, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), said preparations would begin immediately, with campaign activities expected to extend across the 36 states.
“The job is just starting. By this weekend, the flag-off will start, and we are expected to go to the 36 states,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated officers, the directorate’s South-West coordinator, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd.), pledged accountability and effective performance in carrying out their responsibilities.
He said the officers accepted their appointments “with a clear understanding that responsibility must be matched by performance, authority by accountability, and commitment by results.”
