Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.
Badaru announced his resignation in a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, citing health reasons.
The Newsmatrics understands that President Bola Tinubu demanded Badaru’s resignation following public backlash over his shocking gaffe in a BBC interview claiming that insurgents and terrorists were hiding in forward which bombs cannot penetrate.
His comments were perceived as a surrender amid rising terror attacks and strident military efforts to combat the scourge that has attracted disparaging comments about Nigeria by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to intervene in the crisis.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said in a statement on Monday that Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked the former minister for his services to the nation.
The PUNCH is an editorial published on Monday has asked Badaru to resign or be sacked, declaring him unfit for the job.
“President Tinubu will likely inform the senate of Badaru’s successor later this week,” the statement reads.
Badaru, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed as a minister on August 21, 2023, by President Tinubu.
His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.
The development also follows a meeting between Christopher Musa, the former chief of defence staff (CDS), and the president at the State House earlier on Monday evening.
The Newsmatrics learnt that the meeting is a precursor to a major shake-up by Tinubu in the wake of growing insecurity in the country.
