*In Defense of Duty: Arewa Forum Rallies Support for CDS Gen. CG Musa Amid Inflammatory Attacks
By Comfort Amara, Privilege Magazine Correspondent
In a stirring defense of one of Nigeria’s most revered military leaders, the Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF) has issued a passionate and strongly worded statement condemning what it calls a “malicious, sectarian-driven misinformation campaign” against the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa. The statement, signed by Barrister Ibrahim Lolo, Alhaji Bello Usman Abubakar, and Hon. (Dr.) Victor Mathew Bobai, describes the recent allegations by the group Intersociety as not only false and inflammatory but also a calculated attempt to sow discord and derail the fragile unity Nigeria continues to nurture.
A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice
General CG Musa, a Southern Kaduna-born Christian officer with over three decades of distinguished military service, is widely respected across the country for his professionalism, moral courage, and commitment to peacebuilding. His leadership during one of Nigeria’s most critical security periods—as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the Northeast—has been applauded both at home and internationally. Under his command, Nigeria recorded significant victories against insurgent forces, with intelligence-led operations, civil-military cooperation, and a clear doctrine of engagement rooted in protection of civilians.
“General Musa represents a new generation of military leadership—disciplined, visionary, and committed to the unity of Nigeria. He is not a religious bigot; he is a patriot who understands the weight of his office and lives above ethnic or religious sentiments,” the ACCF asserted.
His unique style of engagement includes celebrating Ramadan fasts with Muslims, Easter services with both Christians and Muslims, and advocating for non-kinetic measures like community dialogue, ranching systems, and border security enhancements to tackle root causes of violence.
Peace and Security as the Currency of Development
The Arewa Forum did not stop at merely defending the man—it contextualized the national value of his proposals. Of particular note was General Musa’s advocacy for ranching as a viable alternative to open grazing, which has caused repeated herder-farmer clashes. ACCF emphasized that ranching is not an ethnic policy—it is a modern agricultural framework adopted worldwide to minimize conflict over land and resources.
“It is regrettable that a policy idea rooted in common sense, security logic, and economic development is being twisted into an ethnic or religious conspiracy,” the group lamented. “You cannot create wealth without peace; you cannot attract investment without stability. General Musa’s proposals aim at laying the foundation for a peaceful Nigeria where agriculture, commerce, and communal relations can thrive.”
The Forum went on to affirm that border security, another proposal floated by the CDS, is integral not just to stopping arms flow, but also to protecting lives, enhancing regional trade, and curbing transnational crimes like banditry and kidnapping.
A Call to Reason, A Call to Unity
As Nigeria continues to grapple with internal fractures and external threats, the Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum is emerging as a bold regional force urging Nigerians across the divide to rise above sectarian sentiments and embrace unity, civility, and evidence-based engagement.
“The enemies of Nigeria are not the farmers or the herders, not the Christians or the Muslims. The real enemies are those who twist facts, weaponize trauma, and spread discord for selfish political gains,” said Hon. Dr. Victor Mathew Bobai, one of the forum’s signatories.
In a veiled but clear warning to those pushing divisive narratives, the forum hinted at exploring legal remedies for defamation, incitement, and hate speech that threatens national peace and discredits those upholding public trust.
Conclusion: A National Asset Worth Defending
The role of a Chief of Defence Staff in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria goes beyond troop deployment—it includes being a symbol of balance, professionalism, and national identity. General CG Musa has, by most accounts, lived up to this responsibility with unwavering discipline and statesmanship.
In a nation still healing from the wounds of insurgency, separatism, and ethnic distrust, his calm, inclusive leadership style, coupled with his strategic reforms, stand as a beacon of what responsible security leadership should look like.
The Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum has drawn a line in the sand—not just in defense of General Musa’s reputation, but in defense of truth, justice, and a Nigeria that must not descend into chaos under the weight of falsehoods.
“Let Nigerians choose unity over propaganda, peace over provocation, and truth over tribalism. That is the path forward. That is the future General Musa is fighting for.”
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