Babachir, others defend Musa as El-Rufai remarks generate controversy

Mixed reactions have emerged in response to comments made by retired General Christopher Musa, the Minister of Defence, regarding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

During an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” Musa accused El-Rufai of implementing policies that exacerbated divisions and insecurity in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. He claimed, “El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna State. He divided the state into two. In that, if you are from the south, you cannot go to the north to live.”

Musa’s remarks have sparked a range of responses among social media users in Nigeria.

Nura Bako Zango, a teacher, challenged the minister’s allegations, calling for a deeper examination of historical contexts that contributed to violence in Kaduna State. He highlighted that communal clashes and religious conflicts occurred well before El-Rufai took office, referencing the 2011 post-election violence and the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis. Zango argued that historical realities must be acknowledged in the discussion of accountability.

Abdulmatin Muhammed Jibril also responded on Facebook, questioning Musa to provide evidence for his claims. “As a general of the Nigerian Army, what efforts did you make to protect your people from him? Show us just one piece of evidence of you speaking up,” he wrote.

Ibrahim Idris Muazzam characterized Musa’s comments as unfortunate, asserting that El-Rufai governed Kaduna State in a manner that was fair and impartial. Sani Ahmed similarly refuted the minister’s assertions, stating that the region’s ethnic and religious divisions predated El-Rufai’s tenure.

Conversely, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal supported Musa, asserting that the narratives of Southern Kaduna’s residents under El-Rufai’s administration cannot be overlooked. Lawal emphasized that while El-Rufai’s supporters are entitled to defend him, this does not negate the grievances experienced by many in Southern Kaduna. He controversially compared perceptions of El-Rufai to historical views of Adolf Hitler among Jews, adding that the current administration under Governor Uba Sani aims to heal past wounds.

Victor Mathew Bobai, Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs to Governor Uba Sani, urged the public to focus on the substance of Musa’s remarks rather than speculating on his political intentions. He clarified that Musa’s comments should be perceived as part of a democratic dialogue rather than an official military directive. “We must distinguish between an official directive and a political opinion,” Bobai stated. “General Musa did not issue a military order, announce a defence policy, or instruct the Armed Forces to support any political party. He participated in a public conversation and expressed his assessment of the political environment.”

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