Tinubu to name Defence Minister as Badaru Abubakar resigns

Following the resignation of the incumbent Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar from president Bola Tinubu cabinet, the president is set to name new minister.

It was gathered that, Abubakar who resigned, did so on health grounds.

His exit comes at a sensitive moment for the administration, which is grappling with rising insecurity that recently compelled President Tinubu to declare a nationwide security emergency.

The resignation was contained in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to the President.

The development was announced in a statement issued Monday evening by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said he was quitting on health grounds,” the statement read.

“President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.

“President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week,” it added, indicating that the process to replace the minister is already underway.

Abubakar, 63, served as a two-term governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment as Minister of Defence on August 21, 2023.

The President had unveiled new measures including the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers, deployment of forest guards, and heightened security for schools, churches and mosques in vulnerable communities.

Hours before the announcement of his resignation, Tinubu met privately with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), at the State House.