Immediate past Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has dismissed a viral online claim suggesting he resigned from office in protest against military operations, describing it as “entirely false.”
Badaru, in a letter dated December 1, had informed President Bola Tinubu of his resignation, citing health-related concerns.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, he said he was alerted to a social media post alleging he stepped down because he “cannot stand and watch the US and Tinubu government bombing our brothers in the forest.”
The former minister condemned the claim as a deliberate fabrication aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He said those behind the post were attempting to sow discord between him and President Tinubu.
“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.
“I wish to state categorically and unequivocally that this publication is entirely false, deliberately mischievous, and did not originate from me or from any authorised representative acting on my behalf.
“The intent behind this fabrication is clear: to tarnish my hard-earned reputation, sow discord between me and the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and create needless distractions from the important work of governance.”
Badaru emphasised that the true reasons for his resignation had already been formally communicated to the President and publicly disclosed.
“The true and valid reasons for my resignation were formally communicated to Mr President and subsequently made known to the public through conventional and social media platforms,” he said.
“Any suggestion of an alternative or inflammatory motive is a complete falsehood engineered by mischief-makers.”
The former minister pledged continued loyalty to the president and support for the ruling party.
“I wish to reassure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the good people of Nigeria that I remain firmly committed to the peace, security and stability of our nation,” he said.
