President Bola Tinubu is set to announce a new Minister of Defence this week following the sudden resignation of Badaru Abubakar. The former minister stepped down on health grounds, as stated in his resignation letter dated December 1 and submitted to the President.
His exit took immediate effect, marking a major change within the defence leadership.Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday evening. He noted that President Tinubu accepted Abubakar’s resignation and expressed gratitude for his service to the nation.
The Presidency also revealed that Tinubu will likely forward a new nominee to the Senate before the end of the week, showing that the replacement process is already in motion.Abubakar, 63, had served as a two-term governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before assuming office as Defence Minister on August 21, 2023.
His departure comes at a challenging moment as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to address rising insecurity.Recently, President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency. He rolled out several measures, including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, the deployment of forest guards and improved security for schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable areas.
Before the public announcement of Abubakar’s resignation, Tinubu held a private meeting with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House. Musa’s visit fuelled speculation about potential successors, although the purpose of the meeting remains unconfirmed. His appearance has added momentum to discussions about who will take over the sensitive role of Defence Minister.
