The Arewa Action Group (AAG), a civil advocacy coalition based in Kaduna, has issued a damning assessment of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, accusing him of gross incompetence and declaring his office “technically vacant” in the face of worsening insecurity in the northern region.
In a strongly worded press statement on Sunday signed by the group’s president, Comrade Ibrahim Adamu Bature, the AAG expressed deep frustration over what it described as Badaru’s alleged “utter cluelessness, lack of coordination, and commercial mindset” in handling one of the most sensitive roles in the nation’s security architecture.
“For all practical purposes, the office of the Minister of Defence is vacant. Mr. Badaru has not shown any intellectual capacity, strategic seriousness, or political coordination required to confront the scale of insecurity Nigeria is currently facing. His continued stay in office is a grave disservice to the country and especially to northern communities being slaughtered daily without response,” Bature said.
The group lamented that despite occupying such a critical post, Badaru has failed to provide any concrete roadmap or vision for strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture or synchronising efforts across the armed forces, intelligence services, and the political leadership.
“This is a Minister who behaves more like a merchant of contracts than a custodian of national security. His background in procurement and state-level politics does not qualify him to lead a ministry that should be defining the strategic and operational directions of our military in a time of war,” Bature declared.
According to the Arewa Action Group, the Defence Minister’s lacklustre performance has coincided with a sharp deterioration of security across the north, from Sokoto to Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, and Borno states.
The group said the absence of firm civilian oversight of military operations has created a vacuum being exploited by terrorists, bandits, and insurgents.
“Insecurity has worsened because there is no political leadership at the top of the Defence Ministry. Service chiefs are left to operate in silos. No one is setting a clear agenda or holding anyone accountable. What we are seeing is a Ministry of Defence reduced to the execution of fencing contracts and furniture procurement, not one fit for the battlefield,” the statement added.
The group said while President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment by enhancing military funding and initiating new security collaborations with regional partners, these efforts are being undermined by the “absence of competent civilian leadership” at the Ministry of Defence.
“President Tinubu must act now to rescue the Defence Ministry from the grip of passivity. He needs a serious-minded person who understands strategy, who can liaise with service chiefs, brief the President candidly, engage the National Assembly robustly, and reassure Nigerians that this government is in charge,” Bature urged.
The AAG further warned that with the security architecture failing in the north and morale among soldiers and citizens alike wearing thin, the stakes are too high for mediocrity and political appointments that prioritise loyalty over performance.
“This is not a ceremonial post. Nigerians need a Defence Minister who is present, proactive, and politically mature to align the military’s efforts with civilian expectations,” the group insisted.
In conclusion, group passed a vote of no confidence on Minister Badaru and called on President Tinubu to immediately appoint a more qualified and serious individual with the competence and will to lead the Ministry of Defence.
“Nigeria is at war. This is not the time for trial-and-error leadership. We call on Mr. President to put the interest of Nigerians above politics,” Bature said.
