"Aliyu Gusau, has not resigned " – Reuben Abati

Contrary to our previous report and reports from many reputable media outlets, the presidency has claimed that Nigeria’s newly appointed defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, who was sworn in to the post last week, has not stepped down.

The presidency in response to the reports, through Reuben Abati the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President said on Wednesday,  that the retired army general has not resigned.

Abati said, reports that Gusau had left office after an altercation between him and military commanders, were "false".

According to Premium Times Abati made the confirmation during a brief telephone interview saying "It is not true that he has resigned,"

Gen. Gusau also didn't attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which Reuben Abati claimed was because he "had a flu."

Other reports suggest that President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to try to convince his newly appointed Minister of Defence to rescind his resignation.

Retired Gen. Gusau himself is yet to deny that he resigned or that he had an altercation with the service chiefs.

However, according to SaharaReporters the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musikilu Obanikoro, confirmed there was a disagreement between the new Minister and the military top brass, although he tried to downplay it by describing it as "slight."