The recent political changes in Nigeria have seen the appointment of General Christopher Musa as the new Minister of Defence, with Bello Matawalle now serving as the Junior Minister under Musa.
This shift follows the resignation of the previous Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and is part of a broader reshuffling of the Nigerian defense portfolio. Although some pundits have said the appointment of General Musa is seen as a positive step for the country, as he will be bringing a record of service and experience that the nation urgently needs at a time like this.
However, the continued presence of Bello Matawalle in a key defence position and as junior minister under Musa has attracted reactions with many applauding him for his resilience and commitment to serve Nigeria, and also his virtue of patriotism and humility above anything else irrespective of where his principal, President Bola Tinubu deemed necessary to put him.
Meanwhile, the picture here which revealed how the Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle was receiving full compliments at a public function from the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Christopher has incredibly sent social media into a frenzy as Christopher Musa is now the substantive Minister of Defence whilst Matawalle still remains a serving junior Minister in the same Ministry.
This turn of events has essentially validated the famous quote “times and events change in life, no condition is permanent” and this literally encapsulates the essence of Heraclitus’ philosophy. It suggests that life is a continuous cycle of change, where every aspect of our existence, from our relationships to our circumstances, is subject to transformation.
This perspective encourages individuals to embrace change as a natural part of life and to find new opportunities and growth in the face of adversity. It also serves as a reminder to appreciate the present moment and to let go of the need for permanence, as nothing is truly permanent. Moreover it is also important to treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you — not because they are nice, but because it’s a reflection of who you are. Tomorrow is always pregnant with circumstances we can’t possibly predict.
Checks by Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) have it that North has been hit hard by insecurity, with incidents like the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, an attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara, and the kidnapping of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna. These events have pushed security agencies to step up counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts across the North-West and North-Central regions.
About Christopher Musa, The Substantive Minister Of Defence
Musa was born on December 25, 1967, in Sokoto, which was then part of the former North-Western State (now Sokoto State), Nigeria, and comes from Zangon Kataf in Southern Kaduna State, Nigeria.
He started at Marafa Danbaba Primary School in Sokoto in 1974, then moved to Model Primary School on Dorowa Road, Sokoto, in 1978, where he stayed until 1980. After that, he completed vocational training in Gaummi, Sokoto, from 1980 to 1981.
He enrolled at Federal Government College, Sokoto, in 1981 and completed his O’ levels in 1985. During his time there, he was a member of the National Cadet Corps. He then attended the College of Advanced Studies, Zaria, where he remained until 1986.
In 1986, Musa joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science (Hons) upon graduating in 1991, after which he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant.
In September 1991, he joined the 38th Regular Course 21 at the Nigerian Defence Academy, completing a Mechanical Transportation Officers Course in 1992. Musa took the Young Officers Course in Infantry in 1993, followed by the Regimental Signal Officers Course in 1998, and in 2000 attended the Junior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
From 2004 to 2005, he completed the Senior Course at the same college. Between 2007 and 2008, he earned an Advanced Diploma in Security Management from the University of Lagos. In 2012–2013, he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Defence and Strategies and a Master of Science in Military Science from the International College of Defence Studies, National Defence University, Changping, China. In 2017, he attended the Combined Joint Land Component Commander’s Course on Leadership at the US Army War College.
-Emmanuel Ajibulu is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com), a general purpose online news platform (veracitydesk@gmail.com).
