General Musa vs. Deji Adeyanju: Who is Truly the Talkative? -By Jabir T. Usman

In the words of ‘Bishop David Oyedepo’, which i invariably invoke when confronted with issues that must not be concealed in silence: “A closed mouth is a closed destiny.” Guided by this principle, i do not believe any rational, compassionate person, concerned with the plight of victims affected by the bedeviling insecurity, could perceive Deji’s remarks against Nigeria’s workaholic Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, as innocuous.

Deji Adeyanju

Albeit, Deji and his cohorts are immersed in cynicism against anyone making contributions to the progress of Nigeria under the president Bola Ahmed Tinibu’s led government. They are set of pessimists who can’t see any improvement beyond the lenses of their eyes, because they have already branded Tinibu’s administration as failure out of sheer myopia and hatred. These are also group of unpatriotic people inundated with only propagating and amplifying the shortcomings of Tinibu’s government, as if they weren’t aware that human beings are mere mortals prone to commit a mistake as ordained by the Almighty God.

Therefore, should a rational thinking person lend a listening ears to the political rhetoric cum selfish agitation of Deji and his indoctrinated followers? No, in all honesty; you don’t listen to the people wearing an emotional garment all the time, those who only knows how to pass a partial verdict against whom they hate.

I expected Deji, as a lawyer, to offer solutions to national challenges. Instead, he has chosen the path of a sadist. Like a doctor in an ivory tower, he diagnoses but never prescribes. When last did you hear Deji the lawyer proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems? As the saying goes: “There is no lock without a key, and no problem without a solution.”

Therefore, to vindicate our (CDS) over the mischievous comments uttered by Deji, let me give you a tip of the iceberg on Gen. Musa’s achievements and examplary leadership style since before his assumption as the (CDS):

-General Christopher Gwabin Musa, after serving in different command and staff roles, where he made a remarkable achievements, he was appointed as the Commander of Operation Delta Safe (OPDSa) in 2021.

As Commander, he coordinated the joint military task force operations against oil theft, pipeline vandalism, sea piracy, and militancy in the Niger Delta.

His leadership was noted for applying both kinetic (military force) and non-kinetic (dialogue and community engagement) approaches, which helped reduce oil theft and secure key oil infrastructure.

In fact, his successful command of Operation Delta Safe contributed to his elevation in 2022 as the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (North-East), where he led the counter-terrorism campaign against Boko Haram and ISWAP. That track record later positioned him for his current role as Chief of Defence Staff.

– In 2022, Gen. Musa played a key role towards the mass surrender of insurgents in the North-East , when he was the ‘Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai’, it was reported 79,000+ Boko Haram/ISWAP members and associates surrendered in 2022, crediting sustained kinetic + non-kinetic pressure.

-Under Gen. Musa’s watch as the theatre commander (OPHK), key roads were reopened in the North-East, which resulted to the eased of checkpoints to revive movement & commerce. Under his Theatre Command, long-shut federal routes in Borno were reopened and roadblocks reduced to normalise life in Borno/Yobe/Adamawa.

-Gen. Musa drastically implemented the mixture of “kinetic and non-kinetic” playbook in (OPHK). His hallmark approach, combining aggressive operations with outreach/defections, was repeatedly highlighted as central to gains against insurgents.

-The relentless General also coordinated rescue of the Kuriga school hostages in (Kaduna) as CDS; 137 abducted students/staff were freed on March 24, 2024 in a military-led operation, days before a ransom deadline.

-He led intensified, results-driven crackdown on crude-oil theft.
Under Gen. Musa’s command, weekly Defence Headquarters (DHQ) updates show sustained deactivation of illegal refineries and arrests across the Niger Delta (e.g., 42 sites in one week in April 2025, 21–70+ sites in mid-June 2025).

This development led to a tangible impact on oil-sector security and output. Authorities reported oil-production gains alongside (OPDS) clampdowns that shut illegal refineries and recovered millions of litres of stolen products.

– In his military leadership style and administrative ingenuity, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa under his guidance, Nigeria recently led the call for a united African front in the fight against terrorism and other kind of insecurity in the continent.

With Gen. Musa at the helm of affairs of the Nigeria’s Armed Forces, he initiated the ongoing convergence of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) from all 54 African nations at the Maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, aimed at developing Africa-driven solutions to the continent’s numerous security challenges, is both timely and appropriate. It reflects the growing consensus that Africa is stronger when it unites, pursues a common purpose, and fosters the right partnerships to address shared problems.

The summit also reinforces the belief that fragmented counter-terrorism efforts only benefit the perpetrators who exploit divisions, thereby underscoring the urgency of a collective response built on unity, dialogue, trust, and coordinated action. Moreover, this summit reiterated that a threat to security in one place ultimately poses a threat to security everywhere.

The Summit will grant a platform for the CDS’ to engage in dialogue on shared defence and security mechanisms to enhance defence capabilities amongst their various nations. With the theme, “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaborations,” the Summit would cover four thematic areas, including: Initiating Discussions on Collective Strategies for African Security Issues; Facilitating Collaborative Response to Peace and Security Issues in Africa; Developing Mechanisms for Integrating the Private Sector into Africa’s Defence Efforts; and Establishing a Roundtable for the Initiation of Homegrown Solutions to Africa’s Defence Needs.

It is also commendable that the Summit will showcase Africa’s research, innovation, and defence prowess through an exhibition scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the event.

Now, between Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa and Mr. Deji Adeyanju, who is truly the “talkative”? The answer is obvious. Deji is the embodiment of one without direction or sincerity of purpose, just like a bird flailing without ever fixing its path.

Jabir T. Usman writes from Sabon Gari Tudun Wada Kaduna jabson.usman@gmail.com