Abuja, Nigeria – December 3, 2025 – A tense and rowdy session unfolded in the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers fiercely rejected an attempt to grant President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the traditional “take a bow and go” privilege during his confirmation hearing as Minister of Defence.
The former Chief of Defence Staff, who served from June 2023 until his retirement in October 2025, appeared before the Senate following his nomination to replace Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on December 1, 2025, citing health reasons.
Trouble began moments after Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) rose to move a motion urging the chamber to excuse General Musa from rigorous questioning, citing his “distinguished service” to the nation.
“Given his distinguished service as Chief of Defence Staff, I move that he be allowed to take a bow and go,” Senator Musa proposed.
The suggestion triggered instant outrage. Several senators jumped to their feet, shouting in protest and insisting that the nominee must face full legislative scrutiny, especially at a time when Nigeria is grappling with its worst security crisis in decades.
The red chamber descended into chaos, with lawmakers talking over one another. Senate President Godswill Akpabio repeatedly banged his gavel, calling for order as the uproar continued for several minutes.
Leading the opposition was Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), whose state has been devastated by banditry and mass abductions. He argued passionately that national security had deteriorated to a point where no nominee—regardless of past rank or reputation—should be shielded from accountability.
In a sharp intervention that silenced the chamber momentarily, Akpabio rejected the “bow and go” motion outright, saying:
“Even Trump is on our neck! If we do ‘bow and go’ now, how will we explain to the world? Nigerians are watching, and the international community is watching.”
The remark referenced recent strong criticisms from United States President Donald Trump, who in November 2025 publicly accused Nigeria of failing to protect its citizens, particularly Christians, from terrorist attacks and threatened to withhold aid or impose sanctions if the situation did not improve.
After nearly 20 minutes of disorder, calm was restored, and the Senate proceeded with a full screening that lasted over five hours—one of the longest in recent memory for a single nominee.
Dressed in a brown kaftan and traditional cap, General Christopher Musa, 58, from Sokoto State and a 1991 graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, answered questions on a wide range of issues: intelligence failures, troop morale, ransom payments, border porosity, inter-agency rivalry, and the rising sophistication of terrorist and bandit groups.
He promised an immediate investigation into the controversial withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State—just days before over 200 schoolgirls were abducted on November 17, 2025. He described the incident as “painful and unacceptable” and vowed to get to the root of the decision.
Musa also committed to probing the ambush and killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State in November 2025, along with other targeted assassinations of senior officers that have shaken the military confidence.
On strategy, the retired general outlined an ambitious reform agenda:
- Creation of a national biometric database to track ransom payments and disrupt the “kidnapping economy”
- Deployment of artificial intelligence and drone technology for real-time border surveillance
- Ending the culture of ransom payments that has fueled banditry
- Re-engaging physically fit retired officers on contract
- Promoting merit-based recruitment and promotions
- Strengthening civil-military relations and community intelligence
When pressed on how he would respond to international pressure, particularly from the United States, Musa affirmed Nigeria’s sovereignty but stressed the need for transparent, result-oriented reforms to maintain global partnerships.
He highlighted his previous roles as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai and Commander of Sector 3 in the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram as evidence of his capacity to deliver.
By late afternoon, after exhaustive questioning, the Senate confirmed General Christopher Gwabin Musa as Minister of Defence through a unanimous voice vote. Senate President Akpabio charged him to hit the ground running and deliver tangible results in rescuing abducted citizens and restoring security.
The confirmation comes at a critical juncture. Nigeria recorded over 2,500 conflict-related deaths in 2025 alone, according to independent monitors. Mass abductions have surged by nearly 40% in northern states, millions remain displaced, and armed groups now control large swathes of rural territory in Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kaduna.
Human rights groups welcomed the Senate’s refusal to grant automatic passage, describing it as a rare victory for accountability in a system often criticized for excessive deference to the executive.
As General Musa prepares to be sworn in, the nation watches closely. His success or failure in the coming months will not only define his tenure but could significantly influence Nigeria’s domestic stability and its standing in the international community.
