The Coalition of Arewa Youths for Peace and Security has denounced what it called “reckless and unwarranted remarks” made by a person claiming to speak for Northern youths while demanding that General Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, the Minister of Defence, be fired.
The organization distanced itself from the speaker in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Mohammed Jallo, and Secretary, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, emphasizing that he does not speak for the coalition or the larger group of responsible Northern youths dedicated to national security and peace.
Remember when a group calling themselves Arewa Youths had openly demanded that the defense minister be fired?
A coalition of Arewa organizations, however, has rejected the statement, claiming that the speaker’s remarks were not only deceptive and offensive but also showed a blatant ignorance of Nigeria’s security framework and the coordinated actions being carried out by the Armed Forces under Musa’s command.
“It is obvious that the person making these remarks is ignorant of the intricacy of the security issues facing our country or the strategic changes being carried out in the defense industry.
The statement stated, “His outburst appears to be either politically motivated or orchestrated by interests seeking to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s security leadership.”
The coalition characterized the accusation that Musa is a “sleeping minister” as a sad attempt to damage the reputation of a renowned military officer who has spent decades serving Nigeria and as a flagrant falsification of fact.
It stated that Musa’s service record is self-evident. In his capacity as Chief of Defence Staff, he oversaw increased joint military operations across the nation, enhancing cooperation between the Army, Navy, and Air Force in the battle against banditry, terrorism, and insurgency.
The group also emphasized that Nigeria’s security issues cannot be attributed to the activities of a single person, pointing out that combating crime and terrorism calls for patience, a concerted national effort, and responsible public discourse.
“While citizens are free to voice their ideas, their opinions must be informed by responsibility, truth, and patriotism. The statement went on, “Emotional rhetoric and careless accusations only give state enemies more confidence and lower national morale.”
The group asked Nigerians to ignore the presenter’s assertions, claiming that he does not speak for Northern youths who are still dedicated to defending national security agencies.
It demanded assistance for the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces in their continuous efforts to bring about enduring peace and stability throughout the nation.
