The Coalition of Arewa Youths for Peace and Security has denounced what it called ‘reckless and unwarranted remarks’ by an individual who purported to represent Northern youths while demanding the resignation of the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd).
The group said the individual had no mandate to speak on behalf of youths in the region.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Mohamed Jallo, and Secretary, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, the group distanced itself from the individual, stressing that he neither represents the views nor speaks for the coalition or the wider body of responsible Northern youths committed to peace and national security.
According to the group, his comments were not only misleading and disrespectful but also demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of Nigeria’s security architecture and the collective efforts being undertaken by the Armed Forces under the leadership of General Musa.
“The person making such statements clearly does not understand the complexity of the security challenges confronting our nation or the strategic reforms currently being implemented within the defence sector.
His outburst appears to be either politically motivated or orchestrated by interests seeking to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s security leadership,” the statement said.
The coalition described the claim that the Defence Minister is a “sleeping minister” as a gross misrepresentation of reality and an unfortunate attempt to tarnish the reputation of a decorated military officer who has spent decades defending Nigeria.
It noted that General Musa’s record of service speaks for itself, adding that as Chief of Defence Staff, he coordinated intensified joint military operations across the country, strengthening collaboration among the Army, Navy and Air Force in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
The group recalled that under his leadership, the Armed Forces recorded significant gains in counter-terrorism operations, reclaimed territories previously threatened by terrorists and enhanced intelligence-driven operations that weakened several criminal networks across the North-East, North-West and other troubled regions.
It added that since assuming office as Minister of Defence, General Musa has continued to demonstrate strong strategic leadership through reforms aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s defence capabilities, improving troop welfare, strengthening civil-military relations and deepening collaboration with international partners in tackling transnational security threats.
The coalition further emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be reduced to the actions of one individual, noting that defeating terrorism and criminality requires coordinated national effort, patience and responsible public discourse.
“While citizens have the right to express their opinions, such expressions must be guided by facts, responsibility and patriotism. Reckless accusations and emotional rhetoric only embolden enemies of the state and weaken national morale,” the statement added.
The group therefore urged Nigerians to disregard the presenter’s claims, insisting that he neither represents the voice nor the aspirations of Northern youths who remain committed to supporting national security institutions.
It reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of the Defence Minister and called on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence in their ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and stability across the country.
The guardian
