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“If you can’t impress them with your argument, impress them with your actions.”
—Amit Kalantri
By Cosmas Omegoh
With a finger in the air, many Nigerians are still celebrating the appointment of Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd) as the Minister of Defence.
Musa, who is the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), was appointed to replace the former Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
The move, it was believed, was part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader plan to tackle the current wind of insecurity sweeping through the land.
Under the former minister’s watch, insecurity had festered like a plague without let, rising to unbelievably terrifying new heights. Yet, the man seemed clueless and unperturbed.
Over the past years for instance, Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in the North East clearly reversed earlier gains made against them. Banditry in the North West, kidnapping and wanton killing for sport got birthed and then rose to weird pole-positions. The same ill wind is now unrestrainedly sweeping towards the southern fringes. Bandits’ numbers in the region have multiplied mercurially under the banners of Lakurawa and Mahmuda, among others nomenclatures that strike fear and terror deep into every mind even without them firing a single shot.
Out there in the North Central, Fulani militias went unflaggingly on the rampage, killing hundreds of lives each month as a testament to their unhidden mission of redrawing the demographic map of the region. Kidnapping for ransom, cultism, armed robbery, ritual murder, separatist agitation have been spreading across the South West, South East and South South regions, leaving Nigerians vulnerable each time at every turn.
It is in the light of the foregoing that many believe that the appointment of Musa signals a new era in the fight against the hydra-headed monster spiralling out of control every day, presenting itself as a clearly naughty issue Nigeria and Nigerians must deal with without any tangible results.
People across divides are upbeat that Musa as an army general with hands-on experiences on the issues has much better capacity to offer more robust solution than the offerings of his predecessor, Badaru
When Musa, therefore, secured Senate confirmation and got sworn in by President Tinubu on Thursday, December 4, 2025, he received a clear message of the expectations from Nigerians. It hung everywhere in the air for him to see.
On assumption of duty after his swearing-in, Musa had “hit the ground running” shooting out like a bullet – perhaps to impress.
At a symbolic ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja, he pledged his unalloyed commitment to defending the Constitution, while expressing his avowed resolve to combat insecurity to the best of his ability, reminding all and sundry that “we must take ownership of our national challenges.” Then he added: “No one else will solve them for us.”
Musa went ahead to outline his multi-pronged approach to fighting insecurity menace inerasably assuming the proverbial black hole in Nigeria’s life.
Musa harped on quality leadership delivery that would help engender effective operations, unity of action and proactive strategy for confronting the existing challenges, identifying corruption, indiscipline and negligence as critical components that also needed to be decisively dealt with.
Earlier at his oath-taking ceremony, Musa had promised: “That as Minister of the Government of the Federation, I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, and solidarity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
When he appeared before the Senate in the hours leading to his confirmation, Musa revealed what would also be part of his priorities, his likes and dislikes about the insecurity matrix of the country.
He was reported to have flayed the idea of negotiating with bandits, assuring that under his watch, deliberate efforts would be made to battle the felons keeping the country on the edge. He was said to have lamented the delays in prosecuting the criminals, while emphasising the need for a shorter period to do so.
He was equally quoted as faulting the de-radicalisation of repentant Boko Haram insurgents, expressing his belief that they needed to be handed the short end of the stick.
To achieve operational effectiveness, he called for increased funding for military operations, highlighting the place of equipment in the fight against insecurity, while calling for effective monitoring of the country’s vast borders to forestall frequent infiltration by foreign criminal elements.
He was said to have answered questions on the security lapses and the now vexing withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, before the girls were invaded and abducted.
Musa had assured that he would “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” to unravel the circumstances that led to the incidents, the outcomes of which Nigerians are indeed waiting for with bated breath.
In addition, Musa was quoted as vowing to give a closer look at the circumstances leading to the capture and subsequent gruesome killing of Brigade Commander, Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borno State by the elements of ISWAP, alongside other attacks on senior military men.
But not everyone is amused by Musa’s glowing submissions. Questions are being asked about what he can do differently as a defence minister, with his fiercest critics wondering what he was able to do against insecurity while he reigned as CDS.
However, some Nigerian who know and those who have drunk the sour wine of insecurity to its dregs are happy to see Musa succeed in his new assignment. To them, his soothing words come through as an efficacious balm to help them heal their wounds and get closure to their woes. Everyone hopes they will!
Yet, some other Nigerians would rather prefer to take Musa’s words with cautious optimism – and they have very genuine reasons to be sceptical. In the first place, they contend that Nigerians are never lacking in men who say more and do less. They are plentiful and Musa might as well be one of them. They recall how on assumption of duty, the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun told Nigerians how he felt like a tiger roaring to chase away criminals in the land, adding that added to that layer is the attitude of Nigeria’s political class.
Nevertheless, some analysts suggest that Musa might have genuine intentions. But they are left wondering how he – now a civilian – would navigate the maze of insecurity challenges some well entrenched interests are either overtly and covertly a part of.
Equally, some concerned Nigerians are looking to see how Musa will get the full support from other stakeholders with visible diverse interests in a political space different from the army he is conversant with, with its structured chain of command.
Some others are equally wondering how Musa – though a soldier – but now holds no strand of operational command, will get the complete help he needs from serving soldiers, amid speculations of sabotage and indiscipline.
Head or tail, all sights are on Musa as he settles to his new role – the very first since he retired as the 18th CDS of Nigeria on October 30, 2025.
Right now, Musa is carrying millions of Nigerians on his broad shoulders to safe haven. Their chances of continuing to live might rest on him – definitely not on his words but his will. For him, time is ticking away. He cannot fail, and must not falter. Therefore, he must go beyond the rhetoric!
