It’s Too Early To Criticise Badaru As Defence Minister, Says Arewa Group

A northern socio-political group, Arewa New Agenda (ANA), has faulted the criticisms against the minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, by some persons who are questioning his capacity to handle such a sensitive position.

Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi, convener of ANA, who stated this in Abuja yesterday, while briefing journalists said it was too early to criticise the Minister.

He reminded the critics that Badaru, the immediate past governor of Jigawa State, where he was also the chief security officer, made Jigawa one of the states with the least infiltration of bandits, kidnappers and masterminds of farmers- herders clash.

He said, “As the ministers settles down to confront challenges of governance, ANA notes with disappointment the uncomplimentary remarks attacks, anger, frustration and vituperations with which some persons hiding under the guise of religion, ethnicity and using false and unsubstantiated allegations hurl at the new Ministers even before they settle down.

“H.E, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, the newly appointed minister of defence is among the ministers some disgruntled elements hiding under the garb of religion have taken as lacking prerequisites for his office.

“ANA hastens to correct the impression being built in some media outfit regarding the person and capacity of the new minister of defense.

“Badaru is the immediate past Governor of Jigawa State and, by virtue of this office, the state’s chief security officer for a consecutive two terms of 8 years.

“Amongst the 19 States of Northern Nigeria, Jigawa stood heads and shoulders above other states in the deployment of an internally driven approach to ensuring safety, peace, and peaceful coexistence despite its obvious disadvantage of being a border State to some of the countries serving as operational bases of terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic States West Africa Province ISWAP and their different factions”, ANA said.

While pledging to mobilise all necessary support for the ministers in order for them to excel in the discharge of their duties, he warned that if the ministers fail to deliver, ANA would not hesitate to make a case to the President to review the appointment of the minister concern.

ANA said it is objectionable and unconscionable for ministers to indulge in red-carpet treatment and display excessive perks and perquisites of office at a time when the country is passing through serious economic turbulence.

“We are particularly calling on Ministers of northern extraction to work assiduously hard for the good of the north and Nigeria as a whole.

“They should refrain from pursuing narrow individualistic ends at the expense of the North and the nation as a whole. They must eschew pursuits in conflict with the overarching vision of the President.

“As ministers of the Government of the Federation representing the north, they must make time to engage with the people to understand and internalize their aspirations and weave this into the renewed hope mantra of President Tinubu’s government,” it added.