By Kingsley Omonobi

Immediate past Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has dismissed reports claiming he stepped down from President Bola Tinubu’s administration due to alleged cooperation between the Nigerian government and the Donald Trump administration in the United States over purported plans to attack areas linked to genocide allegations against Christians in Nigeria.

Badaru, in an electronically signed statement titled “Rejoinder: Categorical Denial of Malicious Publication Regarding My Resignation as Minister of Defence,” described the claims as false, mischievous, and aimed at damaging his reputation.

“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.

He stressed that the allegation did not originate from him or any authorized representative, adding that the fabricators intended to sow discord between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Badaru insisted that the genuine reasons for his resignation were formally communicated to the President and already made public through traditional and social media. He dismissed any alternative narrative as “a complete falsehood engineered by mischief makers.”

Reaffirming his commitment to national peace and stability, he said his loyalty to President Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda remained unwavering.

He also pledged continued support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly as the party approaches the 2027 general elections.