By Austine Agbo Emmanuel
Hon. Dr. Victor Bobai, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Kaduna State Chapter, has issued a stern warning against the use of the Arewa platform to propagate division and misinformation regarding the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd).
Dr. Bobai’s statement follows viral reports claiming that a faction identifying itself as Arewa youths had called for the President to remove the Minister of Defence amidst current security challenges in the North.
In an interview with NewsDirect on Thursday, March 12, Bobai firmly dismissed these calls as unrepresentative of the region’s responsible stakeholders.
He characterized the campaign as a calculated effort by vested interests who profit from instability and seek to destabilize national security efforts.
He emphasized that the office of the Minister of Defence is pivotal in coordinating national security policy and supporting the Armed Forces in their ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
Bobai cautioned that reducing complex national security issues to emotional rhetoric and propaganda only serves to weaken public confidence in the military’s efforts.
While acknowledging that northern communities are enduring significant security hardships, Dr. Bobai stressed that the solution lies in collective responsibility, strategic action, and accountability, rather than political scapegoating.
Aligning with the recent stance of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, he urged leaders in the region to take a proactive role in addressing the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and unemployment, rather than shifting the burden entirely to the Federal Government.
Dr. Bobai concluded by urging Nigerians to reject divisive propaganda and instead support the ongoing, coordinated efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.
