President Bola Tinubu on Saturday received former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), at the State House, Abuja.
The Presidency disclosed this in a brief statement issued on Saturday.
While specifics of the discussion were not made public, it is customary for serving presidents to seek Danjuma’s counsel on issues of national significance, considering his vast military background and standing as an elder statesman.
Danjuma served as Defence Minister during the first term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2003.
At 87, the Taraba State-born retired general remains one of the country’s most prominent military and political figures.
He was Chief of Army Staff between 1976 and 1979 under the military administration of Obasanjo and later returned as Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2003 in Obasanjo’s civilian government.
Danjuma also played a significant role in Nigeria’s political trajectory, notably during the July 1966 counter-coup that ushered General Yakubu Gowon to power.
Outside the military sphere, he is a billionaire businessman with investments in the oil and gas industry through South Atlantic Petroleum and is widely recognised for his philanthropy via the TY Danjuma Foundation.
Over the years, the elder statesman has spoken strongly on national security matters.
In 2018, he stirred nationwide debate when he urged Nigerians to defend themselves against armed attackers, alleging that security forces were not doing enough to protect vulnerable communities.
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