Babangida, Mark stopped Gusau from resigning Jonathan’s cabinet

Sources close to the Presidency have confirmed a report written by SaharaReporters that the newly sworn in Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau had resigned. The sources say that it was only due to the intervention of former military head of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Senate President David Mark that Gusau reversed his decision to resign.

Gusau is said to have decided to step away from the position after he was “talked down to” by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh during a meeting with him, Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and the service chiefs.

Jonathan is said to have prevailed on Babangida and David Mark to talk to Badeh as he was very concerned to the kind of perception the resignation of Gusau would have on his administration.

A Punch newspaper source said, “This was the reason the President asked  Mark and Babangida to intervene by speaking with Gusau, which they did.

“The two of them spoke with Gusau and he agreed to stay back. The issues he raised that  made him want   to leave office are  being resolved. I know that sooner than later, heads would roll in the military.”

“I can tell you that the military and everybody were surprised that Gusau  wanted  to leave the job. Although his threat of  resignation would be denied by the Ministry of Defence, I can tell you that they won’t tell you the details of what transpired,” the source added.

Denying the report of Gusau’s resignation, PResidential spokesman, Reuben Abati said, “There was a report by an online medium alleging that Lt.-Gen. Gusau, has resigned his appointment. This is to let you know that that report is untrue.   Gusau remains in office as the Minister of Defence .

“He was absent from today’s (Wednesday)  FEC meeting and this particular online medium cited that in support of its allegation that he has resigned but he was absent at the meeting with the permission of the President. The story is not true, he remains in office.

“He (Gusau) himself has issued a statement on it but I think this further clarification is necessary before we are confronted with a situation whereby all kinds of wild speculations begin to come up and the story begins to develop undesirable branches.”