The retired general, born in Sokoto, used the Kaduna rally to draw on his own upbringing to preach religious tolerance and national unity.
Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence, has endorsed the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Musa made the endorsement on Friday in Kaduna during a meeting with local government coordinators of GCG Musawah 4 PBAT 2027, a political mobilisation structure established to canvass grassroots support for Tinubu and Sani’s re-election bids.
The meeting, according to a statement by the group’s secretary, James Swam, brought together the movement’s leadership, coordinators from all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State, and representatives of more than 300 affiliated support and interest groups.
Why Musa is urging continued mobilisation
Addressing the gathering, Musa urged members of the group to remain committed to their mobilisation efforts, stressing that Nigerians must work collectively to build a stronger and more prosperous country.
“I will continue to work hard for Nigeria to succeed. We should remain determined to build this country because together we are stronger as a nation,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria possesses enormous human and material resources capable of transforming the country if citizens remain united and committed to national development.
“God put us in Nigeria to build this country, and we have the capacity to do it, both in human and material resources,” Musa said, urging Nigerians to treat nation-building as a shared responsibility requiring unity, determination and commitment to the national interest.
Musa draws on his Sokoto upbringing
Musa, who was born in Sokoto State, used the occasion to stress the importance of religious tolerance, national unity and peaceful coexistence, drawing on his own childhood experience growing up in a predominantly Muslim community.
“I grew up in Sokoto; there is no way I can object to any religion,” he said, recalling how he used to participate in Sallah celebrations with Muslim friends and neighbours as a child.
“I remember that during Sallah, as children, we were the ones who would hold the ram to be slaughtered,” he said.
Background on the mobilisation group
GCG Musawah 4 PBAT 2027 has established grassroots structures across Kaduna State’s local government areas in support of the Tinubu and Sani administrations.
The movement’s National Coordinator, Ambassador Polycarp Gankon, a former 2019 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Kaduna State, thanked Musa for his continued support and direct engagement with the group’s grassroots coordinators, describing the minister’s interaction with them as a boost to the movement’s mobilisation efforts across the state.
Musa’s public endorsement adds him to a growing list of serving government officials openly campaigning for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, following similar mobilisation efforts and endorsements from other members of the administration in recent months as political activity ahead of the general election continues to intensify.
