By Danlami Nmodu
It is an open secret that President Bola Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Musa rtd as the new Minister of Defence. Soon after his nomination, fresh insight emerged about the intrigues that got the General Musa the job, especially the pressure or better still, lobby by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State
NEWSDIARYONLINE has learnt that a key factor in the emergence of General Musa as Minister of Defence was the role played by Governor Uba Sani who persistently lobbied President Tinubu to give the job to General Musa as the man who will deliver success.
It is well known that General Musa is from Kaduna State.And Uba Sani has maintained a cordial relationship with the Southern part of the State.As soon as the General was dropped recently as Chief Of Defence Staff, the governor reached out to the President to ensure that the well known military acumen of one of his Kaduna person is utilised in further service of the country.Earlier, social media images emerged of the Governor’s visit General Musa’s family as well.
Sources told NEWSDIARYONLINE that the Kaduna State Governor got talking with the president on the mater on some occasions.The newspaper was howevervl told that Governor Sani’s visit last week to President Tinubu was used to consummate and convince President Tinubu to appoint General Musa as his new Minister of Defence.
Said one insider”There is no doubt that Governor Uba Sani instrumental to the appointment of General Christopher Musa.He believes the General still has the capacity to serve Nigeria.So he discussed with and visited Presidebt Tinubu who has fortunately nominated General Musa, thanks to Uba Sani’s efforts
..General Also Speak Highly of Musa
NEWSDIARYONLINE was also told that aside the lobby by Governor Uba Sani , some serving and retired military officers have been speaking very highly of General Musa even after he was retired. Aso Rock Insiders said this. affirmatiomln of Musa’s sterling qualities got into the President’s ears.
Even more, sources told NEWSDIARYONLINE that even former President, Ibrahim Babangida was very impressed by the brilliance of General Musa who visited him in his Hilltop Villa while still serving as CDS. It was learnt that IBB who chatted with General Musa for about one hour later confessed that he found General Musa very brilliant.
In effect, Uba Sani’s massive lobby of President Tinubu and Musa’s credibility as a brilliant officer as acknowledged by retired and serving officers, has worked in his favour, hence the nomination.
Official: Tinubu moves, nominates General Musa as New Minister of Defence
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated General Christopher Gwabin Musa as the new Minister of Defence.
This was disclosed in a statement Tuesday signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information and Strategy).
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed General Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday.
General Musa, 58, on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, General Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
General Musa was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments include General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
In the letter to the Senate, President Tinubu expressed confidence in General Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.