THE SQUARE PEG IN THE SQUARE HOLE

No appointment in recent memory has gained as much widespread acceptance as that of Chris Musa, the new Minister of Defence, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

Even the most sworn adversary of President Bola Tinubu could not resist the urge to applaud his nomination of Christopher Musa, the eloquent Army general and immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, to fill the vacant position of Minister of Defence.

The position became vacant on Monday following the forced resignation of Mohammed Badaru, whose performance had been rated poorly. He had been on probation since the cabinet reshuffle last year and was among the ministers scheduled to be dismissed. However, a strong lobby intervened on his behalf, compelling the president to give him another chance to improve his performance. Clearly, he failed to take advantage of this opportunity. The evidence lies in the increase in banditry and the resurgence of pupils’ kidnapping, further worsening insecurity in the country. 

Three successive incidents in recent weeks have heightened both domestic and international concerns about the grave situation. In Maga, a small community in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, bandits attacked a girls’ school, Government Girls Comprehensive School, killed the vice-principal, and abducted 24 students. The aftermath of this incident had hardly settled when gunmen raided a church in Eruku, Kwara State, and made off with numerous worshippers. A few days later, hundreds of pupils at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, were abducted by another group of bandits.  

Amid media reports filled with various attack accounts, a siege situation emerged, prompting President Tinubu to cancel all his official engagements, including a planned trip to South Africa for the G20 Summit, to address the crisis. A series of consultations and high-level security meetings with service and intelligence chiefs ensued as the president issued clear directives to quash the unrest. While all this was taking place, the president was embarrassed to discover that his defence minister was absent and inactive. It became a case of someone marked for criticism, yet neglecting his duties. This was the final straw for Badaru.

Incidentally, the resurgence occurred barely a month after the exit of Musa, who was retired following a security breach in the military high command. Not a few knowledgeable insiders believed that his retirement was an ill-advised presidential decision motivated by complex political intrigues within the upper echelons of the security and intelligence services. Many presidential insiders felt that he had performed well since taking command at the Defence Headquarters, fostering inter-service cooperation that had not been seen in many years. The result was significant success in the fight against terror, as many of the outlaws and their notorious commanders were either arrested or eliminated. 

No wonder that when Musa’s return was announced on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, many felt relieved. The general consensus is that President Tinubu made the right choice by fitting a square peg into a square hole. The four-star general started to justify the widespread confidence in him on Wednesday as he stood confidently before the Senate for five hours, answering difficult questions from senators, who are regarded by a significant segment of the public as underperformers.

Part of the significance of the appointment is that it has required a Musa to shore up the image of a Senate, which is widely viewed as a ‘bow and go’ legislative chamber that does not take seriously important matters of state. Their questions prompted intelligent responses from the eloquent Minister-designate, who answered all questions confidently and straightforwardly. Unlike his predecessor, who told the BBC how difficult it was for bombs to locate insurgents in the forest, this one stated that outlaws would have nowhere to hide.

We can, and shall win this war, he told the Senate. His policy: No negotiations with terrorists. They either lay down their arms, or they will be killed. His strategy is a whole-of-society approach, relying on community-driven intelligence that will be enacted by a centrally commanded military, working seamlessly with all other relevant security agencies of the government. He acknowledged the structural gaps in the military command chain and committed to filling them. He called for the support of the legislature for substantial appropriations and judicial reforms that will accelerate justice being served to criminals, explaining that unless there is consequence, outlaws will not be dissuaded.

From the Senate hearing, his past submissions, and his records as CDS, it is evident that Musa understands his brief and the challenges of the moment, and knows how to address them. However, as he pointed out, it will not be his decision alone. He will require broad support from the political leadership as well as the people. 

It is reassuring that the Senate has pledged its support. The other sign of progress is the ongoing efforts President Tinubu is making. He has declared an emergency in the security sector, indicating that he will go the extra mile to focus more attention on it. He has taken significant steps in that direction, approving new recruitment for the police, armed forces, and paramilitary forces. The president has also shown his support for a state police system, urging the federal legislature to alter the relevant clause of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as altered, to allow states with the resources to establish their own police.

While all these measures are commendable, President Tinubu should seriously consider Musa’s assertion that internal security is primarily the responsibility of the police and that it has become necessary to systematically disengage the military so it can focus on defending the nation against external threats. 

Restoring the primacy of the police as the leading agency in internal security will require more than just recruiting personnel. It will involve a significant overhaul of their current training curriculum to address the level of violent crime today. Officers can no longer be trained to handle petty thieves and burglars; their training must be comparable to that of the military so they can match modern criminals shot for shot, force for force. Those undertaking this task must be highly educated, at least holding a Higher National Diploma, and be well-equipped and properly supported.

Adebiyi is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.