“False and baseless” Ex-defence minister MUHAMMAD BADARU denies resigning because he “couldn’t stand and watch US and TINUBU government bombing his brothers in the forest’”

Thursday, December 4, 2025 - Immediate past Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has denied reports claiming he resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s administration over alleged cooperation between the Nigerian government and the Donald Trump administration regarding accusations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

Badaru issued the denial in an electronically signed statement titled “Rejoinder: Categorical Denial Of Malicious Publication Regarding My Resignation As Minister of Defence.”

He said the circulating report was fabricated to create division and misrepresent his reasons for leaving office.

“My attention has been drawn to a malicious, false, and baseless publication circulating online, alleging that I stated I resigned as Minister of Defence because I ‘cannot stand and watch the US and Tinubu government bombing our brothers in the forest,’” he said.

“I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that this publication is entirely false, deliberately mischievous, and did not originate from me or from any authorised representative acting on my behalf.”

He said the intention behind the claim was to “tarnish my hard-earned reputation, sow discord between me and the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and create needless distractions from the important work of governance.”

Badaru maintained that the real reasons for his resignation were properly communicated to the President and made public through official channels.

“The true and valid reasons for my resignation were formally communicated to Mr President and subsequently made known to the public through conventional and social media platforms,” he said. “Any suggestion of an alternative or inflammatory motive is a complete falsehood engineered by mischief makers.”

He further pledged continued support for the administration and for the All Progressives Congress. “I wish to reassure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the good people of Nigeria that I remain firmly committed to the peace, security, and stability of our nation,” he said.

“My loyalty to the President and unwavering support for the Renewed Hope Agenda remain intact. I also reaffirm my full dedication to the continued success of our great party, the APC, at all levels—particularly as we approach the 2027 general elections.”