There was confusion on Wednesday at government circles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following reports in the social media that the newly appointed Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau, a retired Army General, has resigned his appointment.

But while the news was still viral, Gusau, a one-time Chief of Army Staff and ex-National Security Adviser, denied his purported resignation.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which spoke to him, and another national newspaper, hours after, quoted him as denying the story of his resignation.

The Ministry of Defence also refuted the report, even though there was confusion at the Ship House headquarters of the ministry.

Members of staff were surprised about the news while the information department denied that the minister had resigned.

Speculations on the purported resignation by Gusau were heightened by his absence at Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa.

He was sworn into office just one week earlier, and it was regarded as unusual for the minister to miss his second FEC session when he was not on any trip outside the country.

“Well, he was absent from today’s FEC meeting (Wednesday)  with the permission of President Jonathan. So the story is not true, he remains in office and he himself has already dismissed the story as untrue,” Abati added.

An online news medium, ‘SaharaReporters’, had reported Gusau’s purported resignation.

It said Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet had arisen from what he considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from top military brass.

It quoted sources at the Defence Ministry as saying that the country’s Service Chiefs had refused to have a joint meeting with Gusau and Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

It similarly quoted sources that the military henchmen kept Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting.

The Service Chiefs were said to have given excuses for their inability to meet with the minister and his deputy immediately.

The situation was said to have turned testy on Tuesday when, after keeping Gusau and Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, an Air Marshal, showed up alone for the meeting.

“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defence told him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry.

Meanwhile, there were reports in some national newspapers that President Goodluck Jonathan prevailed on the Minister not to resign, as the action could be a major blow to his cabinet.

The president met with Gen. Gusau at the Villa where he agreed to shelve his resignation plan over what was described as “issues” with the service chiefs.

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