… Hails emergence of Gen Musa as Defence Minister
Former Kano State Governor and former Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, and warning about the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons. In a post on his verified X handle on Monday, Kwankwaso also congratulated General Christopher Gwabin Musa on his appointment as the new Minister of Defence, expressing confidence in his ability to restore stability.
“The recent developments in our country have filled me with deep personal concern about the state of our national affairs,” Kwankwaso wrote in his post. Drawing from his extensive experience, he emphasized that “the primary responsibility for tackling the escalating insecurity in Nigeria rests with the Federal Government, in collaboration with state and local governments as well as other critical stakeholders.”
Kwankwaso lamented what he sees as the federal government’s inadequacy in addressing the issue, stating, “Regrettably, it appears the Federal Government is overwhelmed. This is evident in its tacit endorsement to allow state governments to establish and deploy vigilante security outfits with little or no professional training.”
He argued that this approach, “however well-intentioned, has inadvertently facilitated the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.”
The former defence minister highlighted the dangers of this proliferation, noting, “Worst of all, individuals have begun taking advantage of this by setting up their militia, like we are seeing in the actions of some political elements. Such action further threatens the fragile peace in our country.”
In addition to security concerns, Kwankwaso addressed the growing issue of division within the nation. “Of equal concern is the rising wave of ethnic and regional profiling of Nigerian citizens within their own country,” he said. He pointed to “disturbing reports of individuals, particularly from a part of the country, being arbitrarily targeted, harassed, arrested, and in some cases tortured in other parts of the country.” Kwankwaso also criticized the role of social media in exacerbating these problems, adding that they are “compounded by the growing harassment, intimidation, and hate speech on social media, often fueled by ethnic and religious jingoism. These trends pose a grave threat to national unity and cohesion.”
Urging immediate action, Kwankwaso stated, “The Federal Government must act decisively and without delay to reverse these dangerous developments before they spiral further out of control.”
Reflecting on his own background, he added, “As a former Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Committee on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, I find the current ease with which arms are being circulated across the country deeply alarming and unacceptable.”
Despite his criticisms, Kwankwaso ended on a positive note, extending his well-wishes to the new defence minister. “Finally, I wish to sincerely congratulate General Christopher Gwabin Musa on his well-deserved appointment as Minister of Defence,” he wrote.
“I am confident that, with the necessary political will and support, he possesses the competence and experience to make a significant difference in restoring security and stability to our nation.”
