Minister of Defence Christopher Musa has suggested that Nigeria’s political and national experience could have taken a different course if former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai were still active in the current political environment.
Musa made the remark while discussing the country’s leadership and political direction during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday. In his assessment, Nigeria needs to move away from political approaches that emphasise differences among citizens and instead concentrate on issues capable of strengthening national unity and development.
The defence minister specifically criticised El-Rufai, accusing the former Kaduna governor of promoting a “divide and rule” approach to politics. Musa argued that the country does not need politicians who exploit existing differences among Nigerians for political purposes.
His comments came as he spoke positively about President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s development. Musa said his interactions with the President had convinced him that Tinubu genuinely wants the country to progress and that his administration’s focus should remain on moving Nigeria forward.
“Tinubu loves this country. I mean, what we see and we discuss with him, you could see somebody who has a passion for Nigeria, who wants Nigeria to change and things to move forward,” Musa said.
The minister said this commitment to national progress was important at a time when Nigerians needed leaders to concentrate on what unites the country rather than deepen divisions.
“So that’s where we are looking at. We don’t want people that will come in and start dividing this,” he added.
Musa then directly referenced El-Rufai, saying he believed the country might have experienced a different situation if the former Kaduna governor had remained involved.
“And I can tell you, I am not a prophet. If probably El-Rufai had been around, a lot of things would have gone different because he loves that divide and rule. And that’s the issue,” the minister said.
The statement amounted to a sharp criticism of El-Rufai’s political style, with Musa portraying division as an approach that should no longer have a place in the country’s political future.
According to the defence minister, Nigeria is entering what he described as a new phase in which citizens and political leaders should concentrate on the interests that bind the country together. He argued that the emphasis should be on identifying what makes Nigeria work rather than repeatedly focusing on differences.
“We shouldn’t have politicians that play that kind of game. Maybe in the past, this is a new Nigeria. We’re trying to move forward,” Musa said.
He urged Nigerians to look beyond political divisions and consider the broader national interest, stressing that citizens should think collectively about the issues that can contribute to the country’s progress.
“Let us forget about all these aspects and think as Nigerians what makes Nigeria tick. That’s what everybody should work for,” he added.
Musa’s comments placed national unity at the centre of his argument, while also drawing a clear contrast between the type of politics he criticised and the direction he said the country should pursue.
His assessment of Tinubu was notably different. The minister said his dealings with the President had allowed him to observe what he described as a genuine passion for Nigeria and a desire to see the country change for the better.
Musa’s comments therefore combined a defence of the President’s commitment to national development with a warning against political strategies that, in his view, could deepen divisions among Nigerians.
The minister did not elaborate on the specific developments he believed would have been different had El-Rufai remained politically active. Instead, he framed the issue around the broader consequences of what he described as a “divide and rule” approach and argued that such politics should give way to a more united national outlook.
His remarks also reflected his call for Nigerians to approach the country’s future from the standpoint of shared national interests. Rather than allowing political differences to dominate public discourse, Musa said citizens should focus on the factors capable of making Nigeria “tick” and advancing the country.
The defence minister’s position was that political leadership should contribute to national cohesion rather than exploit divisions. He said the country was trying to move forward and should therefore avoid returning to approaches he associated with the past.
Musa’s comments about El-Rufai are particularly pointed because they came during a broader discussion about the direction of Nigeria and the leadership of the country. By linking political conduct with national development, the minister argued that the quality of political engagement remains important to Nigeria’s efforts to progress.
At the same time, Musa maintained that Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria was evident from his interactions with the President. He said the President’s desire to see the country change and move forward was something he had personally observed.
The minister’s remarks ultimately amounted to a call for Nigerians to place national interests above divisive political considerations. He maintained that the country’s future should not be shaped by politicians who seek to exploit differences, but by citizens and leaders willing to work towards common objectives.
As Nigeria continues to navigate its political and developmental challenges, Musa said the priority should be what unites Nigerians and contributes to national progress.
For the defence minister, that means moving beyond divisive politics and concentrating on the shared interests that can help Nigeria advance as a country.
Nigeria Would Have Been Different If El-Rufai Were Still Around, Defence Minister Musa Says
