Second Chance or Final Test?: Response to Nick Dazang’s “General Musa’s Second Chance”, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
Nick Dazang’s essay thoughtfully traces the unusual and, frankly, unsettling journey of General Christopher Gwabin Musa—from Chief of Defence Staff, to sudden removal, and then back again as Minister of Defence. Beyond the drama of it all, the episode forces a more difficult conversation about whether Nigeria’s security leadership is being guided by clear thinking or improvisation at a time when the country can least afford it.
READ ALSO: Tone-Deafness: A leadership in the throes of confusion, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
Still, stripped of politics and personal angles, one truth stands out: Nigeria’s insecurity has reached a point where internal cold wars and quiet pushback are a luxury we do not have. This is a moment for collective responsibility. General Musa is not a placeholder figure; he is experienced, widely respected, and has earned goodwill among many Nigerians. Whatever disagreements led to his earlier exit must now give way to cooperation. Undermining him would amount to undermining the country itself.
Dazang’s reference to “the stone the builders rejected” is apt. To remove a sitting CDS in the name of “strengthening the security architecture,” only to return him weeks later as Defence Minister, points less to careful planning and more to unresolved differences—especially over strategy. His firm stance against negotiating with bandits, restated during his Senate screening, likely put him at odds with some entrenched views within the security establishment.
READ ALSO: Nigeria in Crisis: Unite or falter, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
That reality raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: did something fundamentally change within the system, or was his reappointment driven largely by external pressure—particularly from the United States—amid rising international concern over Nigeria’s worsening security and human rights record? In simple terms, is this truly a second chance, or a polished attempt at image management that risks setting him up for failure?
These questions resonate even more loudly when set against daily realities: mass kidnappings, expanding terrorist strongholds, and communities forced to pay levies to armed groups, while political attention increasingly drifts toward 2027. At this point, symbolism and half-measures no longer move the needle. Nigerians will measure success in concrete terms—safer roads, dismantled terror networks, restored state authority, and the return of confidence in government.
General Musa brings competence, exposure, and rare public trust to the job. Opportunities like this do not come often. But experience should also have taught him that leadership is as much about judgment as resolve. Words matter. Restraint matters. Unity within the security apparatus is essential. Empty bravado only emboldens adversaries; disciplined strategy is what delivers results.
Importantly, this mission cannot be carried on his shoulders alone. The President must be prepared to back him with real authority, not just expectations. The National Assembly must provide the legal and financial tools required to confront terror decisively and punish those who enable it. Without this shared commitment, even the most capable Defence Minister will be locked in a losing battle.
In the end, General Musa’s return could still mark a defining moment—but only if it is matched by sincerity at the highest levels of power. Nigerians are watching closely. History is keeping score. This is no longer about narratives, loyalty, or political calculation. It is about whether the Nigerian state is still capable of defending its people.
Nigeria’s future must not be written in violence.
Written by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE.
Email: bgabdullahi@gmail.com
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