Insecurity: Is a Muslim Defence Minister from Northern Nigeria the Solution?

As it will have been noticed that the post of defence minister is vacant in the country, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune has revealed that a silent cold war is brewing over the political control of the Nigerian military between loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and traditional Arewa power holders in the Northern part of the country, investigations by the Nigerian Tribune has revealed.
According to their source, the presidency is caught in between two major groups, seeking to get their nominees to occupy the defence portfolio in the federal cabinet. A top retired military general, who was described as unofficial security adviser to the president, is reported to have nominated a Christian retired general from Kebbi State for the top job, an action said to have been stoutly opposed by the Hausa – Fulani elite from the core north.
The General, who is also from Kebbi, was said to have insisted that the nominated retired general, has the capacity to push through the reform of the military and complement efforts of the National Security Adviser in the fight against terrorism in the country. The president‘s man who is also a former senator, was said to be angry with his people from the North-East, over their insistence that a Christian from Kebbi cannot be a defence minister.
Meanwhile core Northerners who are opposed to the move were said to have described the plan for a Christian minister of defence as the final onslaught against the core north by the Jonathan presidency. The group was said to have sent delegations to the president, advising against the approval of the nominees and the forwarding of the nominated names to the Senate for confirmation. And, to make good their threats, the northern group was said to have informed their members in the senate to block the confirmation of the General if his name was eventually sent to the senate.
InformationNigeria.org