December 03, (THEWILL) — December 03, (THEWILL) — Immediate past Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has denied reports claiming he resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet over alleged discomfort with ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, following accusations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Badaru, in a personally signed statement titled “Rejoinder: Categorical Denial of Malicious Publication Regarding My Resignation as Minister of Defence,” described the circulating claims as “malicious, false, and baseless.”
He said the allegations were fabricated to create confusion and damage his relationship with the President.
“My attention has been drawn to a malicious, false, and baseless publication circulating online, alleging that I stated I resigned as Minister of Defence because I ‘cannot stand and watch the US and Tinubu government bombing our brothers in the forest.’
“I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that this publication is entirely false, deliberately mischievous, and did not originate from me or from any authorised representative acting on my behalf,” he wrote.
He said the fabrications were designed to “tarnish my hard-earned reputation, sow discord between me and the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and create needless distractions from the important work of governance.”
Badaru stressed that the real reasons for his resignation were duly communicated to President Tinubu and later made public through official channels.
“Any suggestion of an alternative or inflammatory motive is a complete falsehood engineered by mischief makers,” he stated.
The former minister also reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, saying he remains committed to national peace and stability, as well as to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I wish to reassure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the good people of Nigeria that I remain firmly committed to the peace, security, and stability of our nation. My loyalty to the President and unwavering support for the Renewed Hope Agenda remain intact… I also reaffirm my full dedication to the continued success of our great party, the APC, at all levels — particularly as we approach the 2027 general elections,” he said.
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