A group known as Northern Progressive Alliance has exonerated Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar of blame over the tragic bombing that caused loss of lives of civilians over the weekend in Kaduna.

In a statement, National Coordinator of the group, Barrister Hussaini Saraki described Badaru as a competent public official with excellent track records earned over many years of serving the country.

Saraki while expressing sadness over the bombing tragedy, chided those calling for the resignation of the Defence Minister as playing to the gallery to appeal to an orchestrated agenda of some unpatriotic elements with selfish agenda.

"Though what has happened could be described as a monumental tragedy and a huge loss to our dear country at this time that the new administration is fervently trying to settle down and address issues of governance.

"We must however, point out the seeming self-serving agenda of some unscrupulous individual who are out to smear the good record of our Defence Minister who has been unsettled by the loss of lives of innocent Nigerians in that ill-fated drone attack by the army.

"It is instructive to set the records straight and address issues as they are so that undeserving blames cannot be apportioned and heaped on our hard-working defence minister.

"The minister has been very active since he assumed duties in quest to address the challenges of insecurity and insurgency across Nigeria, particularly in northern region of the country.

"He has been working in synergy with important stakeholders to ensuring that the challenges of banditry that has devasted our people is a thing of the past.

"We therefore, see no reason in the call seeking the resignation of the minister due to an incident of no fault of his.

"We are by this statement, calling on Mr. President to disregard the call because purveyors of this unpopular call are not speaking the minds of the northern people, "Saraki affirmed.

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