Concerned Nigerians Fault SaharaReporters Report, Reject AAC’s Call for Tinubu, Defence Minister’s Resignation Over Maiduguri Attack
We have carefully reviewed the publication by SaharaReporters referencing the African Action Congress (AAC) call for the resignation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, over the Maiduguri bombings.
We state clearly that the publication is misleading, politically motivated, and riddled with factual inconsistencies.
- FUNDAMENTAL FACTUAL ERROR
The most glaring flaw in the narrative is the deliberate or careless misrepresentation of the office held by General Christopher Musa.
General Musa is NOT the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
He ceased to be CDS in October 2025 and is currently serving as Minister of Defence .
Therefore, framing the demand around his supposed role as CDS or attributing operational command failures directly to him in that capacity is factually incorrect and intellectually dishonest.
This raises a serious question:
Is this ignorance or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public?
- MISPLACED RESPONSIBILITY
Security operations in Nigeria are executed through a structured chain of command involving:
Service Chiefs
Theatre Commanders
Field Intelligence Units
The Minister of Defence plays a policy and supervisory role, not direct battlefield command.
To demand resignation based on a single incident in an ongoing asymmetric war is:
Simplistic
Misinformed
Politically opportunistic
Witch-hunting
- POLITICIZATION OF NATIONAL TRAGEDY
It is deeply troubling that the AAC and its amplifiers have chosen to:
Exploit a tragic security incident
Push a resignation narrative without offering any credible alternative
This is not advocacy it is political opportunism disguised as concern.
At a time when:
Security chiefs have been deployed
Operations are ongoing to neutralize threats
The focus should be on supporting national security efforts, not undermining them.
- IGNORING THE REALITY OF TERRORISM
Nigeria has battled insurgency for over a decade.
No serious security analyst will suggest that isolated attacks automatically translate to systemic failure.
Even the most advanced nations in the world:
Experience terror incidents
Continue operations without resorting to politically driven resignations
- SELECTIVE AND BIASED NARRATIVE
The report:
Highlights the attack
Ignores ongoing military gains
Ignores immediate government response
Amplifies only opposition voices
This is not journalism it is agenda-setting.
- CLEAR SIGNS OF WITCH-HUNTING
The insistence on targeting General Musa despite:
His transition from CDS to Minister
Ongoing reforms in defence coordination
…suggests a pre-determined agenda rather than an objective assessment.
This is nothing short of political witch-hunting.
OUR POSITION
We strongly reject:
The call for resignation
The distortion of facts
The attempt to demoralize Nigeria’s security leadership
We affirm that:
The Federal Government has responded
Security operations are ongoing
The fight against terrorism remains active and coordinated
CONCLUSION
Terrorism in Borno is not new (over a decade insurgency)
Even recent operations killed 80+ insurgents days after the attack .
Government has already:
Deployed security chiefs
Increased operations
Responded publicly.
Nigeria does not need:
Sensational headlines
Politically motivated outrage
Nigeria needs:
Unity
Responsible commentary
Support for those defending the nation
We reaffirm our unwavering loyalty and confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, all Service Chiefs, security agencies, and theatre commanders who continue to make immense sacrifices in safeguarding our nation.
Their leadership, courage, and commitment remain critical in confronting evolving security challenges, and we stand firmly in support of their efforts to secure Nigeria and protect the lives and sovereignty of our people.
We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to reject narratives built on falsehood, manipulation, and opportunism.
Signed:
Hon Hamis Nababa Malunfashi
Convener
Dr Olumide Olayinka
Co-Covener
Hajiya Mairo Isa Abubakar
George Donald Jackson
