CNPP, CSOs to Gen Musa: Clear Nigeria’s forests or betray public trust

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have jointly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), as the substantive Minister of Defence.

In a statement signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the groups described the appointment as strategic, timely and reflective of the President’s commitment to strengthening national security at a critical moment in the country’s history.

According to the organisations, General Musa’s wealth of operational experience, institutional knowledge, and deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex security landscape offer renewed hope to citizens grappling with threats such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism and farmer-herder conflicts.

They noted that the choice of the former CDS signals a sense of urgency by the Federal Government to address the escalating insecurity across the federation. The appointment, they added, presents an opportunity for reforms within the defence sector, improved intelligence-gathering, enhanced inter-agency coordination, and better welfare for military personnel.

Despite their commendation, the CNPP and CNCSOs issued a stern charge to the new Defence Minister, insisting that the trust placed in him by Nigerians and the President is “sacred and must not be betrayed.”

They set out five key expectations for General Musa. These include unwavering integrity in office; ensuring safety and freedom of movement for all Nigerians; clearing the nation’s forests of criminals; ending preventable deaths linked to governance failures; and achieving decisive victory over insurgency, terrorism and banditry.

The groups particularly emphasised the need for sustained, intelligence-driven operations to eliminate criminal enclaves within forests, mountains and other ungoverned spaces, stating that these areas “must no longer remain safe havens for terrorists and bandits.”

They further urged the National Assembly, security agencies, state governments, traditional institutions and citizens to extend full support and oversight to ensure the Defence Minister succeeds in his “historic national assignment.”

“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads,” the statement concluded. “This appointment must signal a turning point in the country’s security trajectory. The era of experimentation is over; the time for decisive action is now.”

The groups also encouraged President Tinubu to continue prioritising competence and accountability in all security-related appointments.