By Harriet Tornguvan
The people of Southern Kaduna have conferred the prestigious title of Grand Commander of Southern Kaduna (GCSK) on the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), in recognition of his contributions to national security, peace, and unity.
The honour was bestowed during a colourful ceremony attended by traditional rulers, political leaders, community stakeholders, youth and religious groups, as well as residents from across Southern Kaduna and neighbouring communities.
According to a statement issued by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence, the recognition reflects the appreciation of the people for General Musa’s distinguished service to the nation and his commitment to fostering peace and stability.
Speaking after receiving the award, General Musa expressed gratitude to the people of Southern Kaduna for the honour, describing the region as prosperous and full of promise. He dedicated the title to all patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians and praised Southern Kaduna for producing accomplished individuals who have excelled in different fields of endeavour.
The Defence Minister used the occasion to urge youths in the region to remain law-abiding and avoid actions capable of promoting conflict or criminality. He stressed that security remains a shared responsibility and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate insecurity.
General Musa also commended community leaders for their support in intelligence gathering and encouraged them to sustain the provision of timely and credible information on criminal activities to security agencies.
He further urged residents to uphold the values associated with Southern Kaduna, including hard work, respect for the law, sacrifice, humility, and service to humanity, noting that peace and social cohesion are vital for national growth and development.
The Minister appealed for continued support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing increased Federal Government presence and developmental interventions in Southern Kaduna over the past three years.
Earlier, Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Leaders Council, Elder Akau Moses, described General Musa as a worthy ambassador of the region whose military career has brought honour and pride to both Southern Kaduna and Nigeria.
Moses noted that the Defence Minister’s professionalism, courage, patriotism, and dedication to duty have earned him national and international recognition, adding that the GCSK title serves as an acknowledgement of his immense contributions to national security and his role as an inspiration to younger generations of Nigerians.
