BREAKING NEWS: ALIYU GUSAU RESIGNED AS MINISTER OF DEFENCE

General Aliyu Gusau (Rtd) has resigned his appointment as Minister of Defence. It was gathered that the sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose when the service chiefs refused to meet him in a schedule familiarisation meeting, which the former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass. 

According to SaharaReporters,’ 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 Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.’

‘When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defence 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 defence, 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’.

Moreover, it was learnt that 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.

Culled :SaharaReporters