The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has credited his rise to national leadership to divine intervention, saying God elevated him at a time when events appeared firmly stacked against him.
Musa made the remarks during a recent church service at the Conquerors Global Assembly in Abuja. His message, monitored by Church Times and shared on its website on Sunday, was captured in a video that has since circulated on social media.
The defence minister attended the service with his wife, where he expressed gratitude to the church’s founder, Bishop David Abioye, and his wife, and prayed for the continued growth of the ministry.
Addressing the congregation, Musa urged worshippers to remain hopeful, stressing that faith sustains believers through difficult moments. “We serve a living God. He will never give up on us,” he said.
Reflecting on recent events in his life, Musa described challenges as part of a divine plan. “We give God the glory for what has happened this year. Even when the enemy thought they were putting us down, they did not know God was going to lift us up. In their small minds they conspired and thought they had won. But as long as you have God as your pillar, you will win,” he stated.
He described Bishop Abioye as a close ally and noted that adversity is essential for personal growth and strength. “If you are never challenged, you can never improve in life,” he said. “As Nigerians, we know we are strong, but we are stronger together with God Almighty. Nigerians are winners. We must continue to pray for our leaders and our country.”
The minister also cautioned against negative narratives about Nigeria, warning that persistent criticism could undermine national development. “If you continue to talk down on your country, you don’t mean well,” he said.
Musa further urged Christians to live out their faith, stressing that true impact comes from practising what one professes.
President Bola Tinubu nominated Musa as Minister of Defence on December 2 following the resignation of Mohammed Badaru on health grounds. The nomination was conveyed in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with the President expressing confidence in Musa’s ability to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. Musa was sworn in two days later.
