MIDDLE BELT YOUTH FORUM REJECTS CALL FOR DEFENCE MINISTER’S REMOVAL, WARNS AGAINST DISRUPTING SECURITY REFORMS. (PHOTO).

 Middle Belt Youth Forum Rejects Call For Defence Minister’s Removal, Warns Against Disrupting Security Reforms

The All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AMBYF) has opposed recent calls for the removal of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, describing the demand as “hasty, misguided and potentially divisive.”

The call for the minister’s removal was recently made by Abdul Dan Bature, who urged the federal government to replace the defence minister over concerns about the country’s security situation.

In a press statement signed by its National Leader, Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, and National Secretary, Comrade Aliyu Muhammed Tiga Wamba, AMBYF said the agitation risks injecting sectional and religious sentiments into matters of national security.

The group stressed that Nigeria, under the Constitution, remains a secular and pluralistic state where appointments into public offices should be guided by competence, constitutional authority and national interest rather than religious or regional considerations.

According to the statement, the criticism directed at the defence minister appears selective, noting that similar concerns were not raised when the position was previously occupied by individuals of the same religious background as those now criticizing the appointment.

AMBYF also defended the professional credentials of the minister, noting that Musa previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff and possesses extensive operational experience in addressing the country’s security challenges.

The forum emphasized that Nigeria’s security problems, including insurgency, terrorism and banditry, have evolved over many years and cannot be solved instantly by any single official.

“It is unrealistic to expect immediate solutions to complex security challenges that have developed over a long period,” the statement said, adding that what is needed is sustained institutional support, operational continuity and strategic patience.

The youth forum noted that the Middle Belt region has historically suffered from violent attacks, terrorism and banditry, making security a top priority for communities in the area.

Following the security emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the group urged the federal government to prioritize the modernization of the armed forces through the acquisition of advanced weapon systems, improved intelligence capabilities and stronger air power.

It also called for the deployment of modern surveillance technologies and integrated intelligence networks to strengthen proactive operations against insurgents and bandits.

The forum warned that calls for the sudden removal of key security officials could undermine military morale and disrupt ongoing reforms within Nigeria’s defence architecture.

AMBYF therefore urged Abdul Dan Bature and others promoting the campaign to reconsider their position in the interest of national unity and stability.

The group concluded by reiterating its support for the current security leadership and called on Nigerians to focus on unity and collective national efforts to combat terrorism and restore peace across the country.