General Aliyu Gusau (rtd)
Newly appointed Defense Minister Aliyu Gusau has resigned.
Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s
cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of
insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass.
Several sources at the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that
Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint
meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a former
senator.
Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top
military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned
them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs making excuses
for their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately.
Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr.
Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense
Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.
“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him
he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh
reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry.
Our sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be
meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), stating
that this arrangement was the collective decision of military officers
in the country.
One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr.
Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to
“shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator Obanikoro a
‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not going to be taking
orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.
Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the
meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit
his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan.
SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the
development, immediately charged Senate President David Mark with the
task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation. The
president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved
expeditiously.
However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and
refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last
night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a
last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but
Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.
Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive
Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He
reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where
military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders and
him an experienced retired military man.
SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely that
there was what he termed a “slight disagreement,” but added that there
was nothing serious.
An aide to Senator David Mark told SaharaReporters that Mr. Gusau had
sent his letter of resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him after
his nomination. The source added, however, that Mr. Mark had refused to
have the resignation letter read because the senator was still hopeful
of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his post.
Monalisa Chinda’s:
