President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has firmly dismissed a motion by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) requesting that Defence Minister–designate, Lt. Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), be allowed to “take a bow and go” without questioning. Akpabio insisted that Nigeria’s worsening security situation demands a thorough and non-political vetting process to restore public confidence.
Lt. Gen. Musa, a retired Chief of Defence Staff and the 18th to occupy the position, was nominated by President Bola Tinubu to replace Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who resigned on Monday due to health reasons.
Addressing the chamber in a stern tone, Akpabio stressed that Nigeria cannot afford a superficial vetting process at a time of national distress. He referenced increasing international attention, particularly from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, whom he claimed has been pressuring Nigeria to implement decisive counterterrorism measures in response to alleged mass killings of Christians.
According to Akpabio, the nominee must be subjected to full questioning so Nigerians can understand his strategy and outlook, citing unresolved cases such as the abduction of Catholic schoolgirls and several other security failures causing public outrage which proves the gravity of the security situation.
“If we come here and do politics of ‘bow and go’, this is not the period for that. Even Donald Trump is on our neck. We have not yet asked the nominee what his response will be to the President of America. He is not just anybody, Chief of Defence Staff, a nominee for Minister of Defence of the country and you stand up to say take a bow and go with so many questions on the mouth of Nigerians? With over 200 Nigerian children in the bush kidnapped and being tortured? Disappointment is round and all over Nigeria. Give the man an opportunity to give Nigerians hope” he said
Senator Sani Musa, tabling his motion, explained that the nominee had already engaged with senators during a closed-door session. He argued that some of the issues raised may not be suitable for open discussion, hence his appeal for a simplified “bow and go” approval.
The Senate screening comes a day after the U.S. House Appropriations Committee held a joint congressional roundtable with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and other experts to review new evidence surrounding alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, an issue strongly highlighted by President Trump.
Meanwhile, the Senate earlier concluded the second reading of a bill seeking to amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. Sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the bill proposes classifying kidnapping, hostage-taking, and related offences as acts of terrorism, eliminating fines or alternative sentencing and leaving only the death penalty as punishment.
The bill, which aligns with the federal government’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s security crisis, has been forwarded to the Joint Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Interior, and National Intelligence, with a report expected in two weeks.
General Musa, who turns 58 on December 25, is a distinguished soldier whose military career spans several critical theatres of operation. He served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025, and in 2012 he received the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering. Over the years, he has held various high-level appointments, including General Staff Officer 1 in charge of Training and Operations at Headquarters 81 Division; Commanding Officer of the 73 Battalion; Assistant Director of Operational Requirements in the Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative and Training Team Member at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His operational command experience includes serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Operations at the Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps in 2019, later becoming Commander of Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole, and subsequently Commander of Sector 3 of the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad region. In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, before eventually becoming Commander of the Infantry Corps. His performance in these roles led to his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.
By: Richmond Fordjour Ampofo
