Mr. Gusau’s sudden
decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose from what the
former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from
Nigeria’s top military brass.
Several sources at
the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military officers
yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy,
Musikilu Obanikoro, a former senator.
Sources at the
ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military henchmen kept Mr.
Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting, with different
military service chiefs making excuses for
their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.
their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.
“When Air Marshal
Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him he was expecting all the
chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no
need,” said one source at the ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also told
Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of
Defense Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision
of military officers in the country.
One source said an
attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was
rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is
said to have called Senator Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the
military was not going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like
him,” one source stated.
Soon after the
altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the meeting and asked the
Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his letter of resignation to
President Goodluck Jonathan.
SaharaReporters
learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the development, immediately
charged Senate President David Mark with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to
rescind his resignation. The president reportedly promised to see that the
issue was resolved expeditiously.
However, a source
stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and refused to back away from his
decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night, President Jonathan paid a visit
to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at
his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.
Mr. Gusau kept away
from today’s session of the Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all
ministers with the president. He reportedly told aides that he could not serve
in a situation where military officers would show open disdain for their
civilian leaders and him an experienced retired military man.
SaharaReporters
contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely that there was what he termed a
“slight disagreement,” but added that there was nothing serious.
An aide to Senator
David Mark told SaharaReporters that Mr. Gusau had sent his letter of
resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him after his nomination. The source
added, however, that Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation letter read
because the senator was still hopeful of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his
post.
No comments:
Post a Comment