Why Kukah Believes Gen. Musa Can Restore Stability in Nigeria’s Troubled Regions

 December 5, 2025 by Daniel Simon Anawo, Abuja

Why Kukah Believes Gen. Musa Can Restore Stability in Nigeria’s Troubled Regions

Why Kukah Believes Gen. Musa Can Restore Stability in Nigeria’s Troubled Regions

In a country where hope frequently clashes with scepticism, the words of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, hold great weight. Kukah is well-known for his insightful, courageous, and often poetic critiques of Nigeria's political and moral faults, and he does not provide cheap endorsements. His persistent diagnosis of Nigeria's security situation has been one of a broken social compact, with the government becoming aloof, corrupt, and incapable of providing the most basic public good: security. Against this context of continuous, principled criticism, his latest, ostensibly hopeful assessment of General Christopher Musa's ability as Minister of Defence warrants serious consideration. Bishop Kukah believes in General Musa's ability to restore Stability in Nigeria's difficult regions is more than just a vote of confidence in a military officer; it is a complicated, nuanced bet on the prospect of a specific type of leadership—one grounded in professional integrity, moral clarity, and a thorough awareness of the human topography of conflict. His perspective provides an important prism through which to understand both the promise and the danger of this momentous appointment.

Kukah's opinion is based on a contrast between military competency and moral leadership, which he believes General Musa embodies. From his perch in Sokoto, the epicentre of the Northwest's banditry epidemic, Kukah has seen firsthand the devastation caused by a security response that has frequently been both cruel and ineffective. He has opposed operations that alienate local people through extrajudicial killings and collective punishment, claiming that such techniques are ineffective and exacerbate the hostility that militant groups exploit. Kukah sees General Musa as a different type of commander. The General's stint as Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI in the Northeast was characterized by a perceived emphasis on civil-military cooperation. Reports, frequently repeated by local community leaders, suggested Musa valued contact with traditional authorities, religious figures, and civilian people, believing that intelligence and trust from these sources were more valuable than brute force. For Kukah, a pastor who has doggedly fought for a "hearts and minds" strategy, this is more than a mere tactical detail; it is the fundamental concept of any long-term win. He believes Musa understands that stability is not the absence of violence, but rather the existence of justice and perceived legitimacy. This approach is fully consistent with Kukah's persistent thesis that Nigeria's insecurity is really a crisis of governance and failed citizenship, necessitating a response that is as much about rebuilding trust as it is about eliminating enemies.

Furthermore, Kukah probably sees General Musa's public character and communication style as a valuable asset. Musa has built a reputation for clear, empathic communication in an era when government utterances are sometimes received with scorn and distrust. He speaks about the plight of displaced people and the gallantry of his men with genuine emotion. This is an important aspect of leadership for Kukah, who is a superb communicator. The Bishop has long said that the Nigerian state has lost the power of narrative, giving moral and ideological ground to militants and criminals. A Defence Minister can communicate a clear, A humanitarian and convincing vision for security—one that can talk to a bereaved mother in Chibok, a terrified farmer in Zamfara, and a sceptical foreign partner with equal credibility—begins to recover that ground. This ability to instil public trust is a non-kinetic weapon system that previous governments lacked, and Kukah understands its strategic importance.

Kukah's support also arises from a deliberate consideration of institutional restructuring. The Bishop has been a vocal critic of corruption and internal dysfunction in Nigeria's security apparatus. He has made references to the "ghost soldier" problem, procurement irregularities, and the unpleasant The effect of low welfare on frontline troops. General Musa's reputation, whether merited or not, is that of a leader who will not tolerate such toxic behaviour. His promotion for "jointless"—the seamless integration of army, navy, and air force operations—indicates a leader who prioritizes operational efficiency over bureaucratic turf battles. Kukah believes that a minister with this perspective, functioning from a civilian authority position, may serve as a catalyst for the long-overdue cleansing and reorganization of the defence institution. According to this viewpoint, restoring stability requires first restoring the integrity and efficacy of the institution tasked with delivering it. Musa offers a potential top-down shock to a sclerotic system.

However, viewing Bishop Kukah's attitude as unqualified optimism is a mistake. His is a hopeful but cautious bet, with specific circumstances. Kukah is a political theologian who is well aware of the dangers that come with authority. His endorsement almost definitely rests on several crucial assumptions:

Unrestricted Presidential Support: Kukah understands that no minister, no matter how skilled, can succeed if undermined by the President. General Musa will need consistent political support, adequate resources, and the authority to make difficult, potentially controversial decisions. Tinubu must provide him this operational space while resisting the temptation to politicize security operations for short-term gain.

The Primacy of the Non-Kinetic: Kukah's idea of stability goes well beyond the battlefield. He expects General Musa to be the cabinet's primary voice in arguing for the immediate follow-up of military achievements with civilian-led operations such as IDP relocation, school and hospital rebuilding, and youth employment in cleared areas. Without this, military gains are fleeting.

Resistance to Militarization: Crucially, Kukah's backing is likely contingent on Musa's successful transition from military commander to civilian minister. The bishop is a passionate supporter of democracy. He will keep a tight eye on the Minister of Defence to ensure that security policy is based on human rights, legal responsibility, and civil liberties, and that the state does not become militarized.

Finally, Bishop Kukah's conviction in General Musa demonstrates Nigeria's deep desire for competent, ethical leadership. It is hoped that a soldier's discipline, a strategist's thinking, and a leader's empathy may be combined to deal with a national disaster. Kukah is not naive; he has thoroughly documented the nation's failings. Rather, he is making a realistic decision that, among the available possibilities, General Musa possesses the unique set of characteristics required to chart a new course.

This confidence, however, throws enormous burden on General Musa's shoulders. He is now expected to be more than just a president; he must also be a moral conscience for the nation. He must.

Kukah's wager would be validated by providing not only tactical victories, but also a tangible restoration of peace and dignity to Nigeria's most damaged neighborhoods. Nigeria's troubled regions do not need another temporary calm; they require long-term peace based on justice, development, and the restoration of hope. Bishop Kukah, in his cautious approbation, laid forth the roadmap. The world is now waiting to see if General Musa, a soldier turned minister, can become the architect.