The Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s nomination as Defence Minister.
Musa was confirmed after a five-hour grilling by the lawmakers on Wednesday.
Recall that Musa was nominated as the Defence Minister by President Bola Tinubu following the resignation of Badaru Abubakar, the immediate past Minister.
What Musa said during the Screening
Answering questions from lawmakers during the screening, Musa assured Nigerians of his commitment to serve Nigeria diligently if confirmed as a minister.
He also advocated for a comprehensive and unified database in Nigeria to assist security agencies in their operations.
Musa called for proactive local and sub-national governments, and the Nigerian legal system to address insecurity.
Musa stated: “I believe that the challenges we are facing are a Nigerian challenge, not only for the armed forces or security forces, but for everyone working together.
“I want to assure you, we will win working together as a team. Even when I was CDS, I tried to harmonise all the teams and service chiefs.
“There are a lot of gaps and constitutional lacunae that are affecting operations. We will follow up to make sure everyone is on board.
“There should be no negotiation with criminals. If you negotiate with them, they will never abide by it. They use the money to buy more arms,” he said.
The former defence chief noted that subsequent recruitment into the armed forces will be thorough.
On the claims of Christian genocide in the country, Musa said all Nigerians are victims of terrorism.
“We are all victims; everybody is being killed,” he said.
“We must stop the killings. Nigerians should not be killed. We must unite. These are evil people who are on drugs, they kill everyone, they don’t know who is who.”
Following his address, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio commended Musa for taking the time to answer all the questions asked.
“I have not seen any nominee who has answered all questions since 1999,” he said.
“We want to urge you to visit the defence industries as soon as you take over.”
Following the screening, Akpabio put Musa’s nomination as Defence Minister to a voice vote, which was unanimously approved.
Rowdy Session During Musa’s Screening
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that there was a rowdy scene during the screening of Musa’s nomination as Defence Minister.
The rowdy scene erupted after some lawmakers opposed a move to excuse Musa, former chief of defence staff and ministerial nominee, from questioning.
Trouble started when Senator Sani Musa, the lawmaker representing the Niger East Senatorial district of Niger at the Senate, proposed that the nominee be allowed to “take a bow and go”.
The suggestion was immediately rejected, with several senators rising to their feet and shouting in protest as the chamber became visibly unsettled.
Senator Garba Maidoki, the lawmaker representing Kebbi South Senatorial district of Kebbi State at the Senate, rejected the proposal, insisting that Musa must be asked questions.
Also, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio halted the push, reminding lawmakers that the screening was a serious exercise that required public interrogation.
He said Nigerians expected to hear from the nominee directly, given the scale of the country’s security challenges.
“Our constituents would like to hear from him. We are asking him questions because our constituents would like to ask him questions too,” Akpabio said.
“This is not a period we should say bow and go. Even Donald Trump is on our neck.
“With over 200 children in the bush being tortured, give the man an opportunity to give Nigerians hope. It is not like we don’t like him.”
Once order was restored, the Senate continued with a full screening of the retired military officer.
