Apart from being a retired Military General and an Ambassador, the Former Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) CFR, the Betara of Biu, Garkuwan Keffi, the Jagunmolu of Saki land and the Bakore of Akure Kingdom is a celebrated Nigerian who distinguished himself in the service of his Fatherland. His ethical and professional display throughout his reign as the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS, Nigerian) earned him an Ambassadorial position to the Republic of Benin, even after retirement from the Nigerian Army, where he fostered a cordial relationship between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria.
Buratai has a sterling reputation as a military officer and his dedication and role in the fight against terrorism and insurgency are well-documented in the history of Nigeria. Under his watch, Nigeria conducted a successful 2019 general election with voters in the northeastern part of the country fully participating in the exercise. He decimated, degraded and technically defeated Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria and made the northeast and other all other part of the Country a safer zone for the residents.
Nearly all leaders can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him war. This very word fit into the compass mind under which the character of General Buratai has continued to evolve. In the war against terror, his leadership qualities stood out the most. Many will agree with the General in the very manner of summing up his philosophy.
A passion for excellence is contagious and uplifting. Passion cuts both ways. In creating passion in his own life and with those he cares for, General Buratai wants to feel, experience and live every emotion and passion of all his work. Here, one can reminence, his story as a war time General and the Chief of Army Staff, starts as one of the very few who as the head, witnessed war, real war, and unlike many others, he triumphed.
The war, I was referring to, is not even just a war, not just a battle, but a war with a difference. The war on terror, and not just a war on terror, but a war on Boko Haram, arguably the deadliest terror group with as much of a political backing at that time in our country’s history.
Ambassador TY Buratai as he is fondly called is an accomplished Nigerian, his track record as the Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador have earned him numerous awards and recognition in Nigeria and beyond. The latest of such recognition is his election as a Distinguished Fellow and a Patron of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, which the conferment have been scheduled for Saturday November 23rd, 2024 during the Institute’s International Security Conference and Investiture Ceremony at the prestigious University of Lagos Campus, Lagos State.
In electing Ambassador Tukur Buratai as a Distinguished Fellow and Patron of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, the Institute affirmed that the Honors are been confered on Ambassador Buratai in recognition of the noble, significant and remarkable contribution to the provision of quality security, protective services, safety enforcement, leadership culture and good governance for the development of humanity and mankind in Nigeria.
Here was a Chief of Army Staff who came at the most difficult time in Nigeria’s history when the internal enemies were collaborating with the external actors to undermine the nation’s security architecture, sponsoring terror, wasting lives and promoting violent crimes. This was a time when these terrorist and criminal elements have literarily taken over some Local Government Areas, almost fifteen LGA’s in the Northern part, especially the Northeastern part of Nigeria, they were on the verge of making serious in roads into the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, where they were attacking public infrastructures, kidnapping for ransom, killing of innocent souls and others violent crimes which was quite overwhelming.
Ambassador Buratai who also holds the Prestigious title of Ochiaya Ejieje Ogu Aguleri patriotism and genuine service to the nation has been widely acknowledged and this has brought forth a lot of acknowledgement, honours, laurels and awards to him both locally and internationally. Immediately after his retirement from service he was decorated with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by Former President Mohammadu Buhari, in year 2023, the Nigerian Army University Honoured him with the Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa), Doctor of Letters, same with Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, where he was confered with Degree of Doctor of International Relations and Strategic Studies, while the Nation’s Premier University, the University of Ibadan Alumni Association Worldwide also gave him their platform to articulate his view on public service and the imperatives for national security in Nigeria. Also on Wednesday 20th November, 2024, the Lagos State University of Education invited Ambassador Tukur Buratai as the Keynote Speaker during the Institution’s Second Security Summit with the theme: Insecurity, Cost of living and Good Governance in the 21st Century, where the Erudite Military Strategy deliverd a paper titled; Lagos in Nigeria’s National Security and Defence Architecture. During the lecture he identified various security challenges that could confront Lagos State and he brilliantly profer solutions to those identified security challenges.
In one of his interviews after retirement, Ambassador Buratai said: “My number one and primary constituency is Nigeria, and as I have told you earlier, I have served this country as an Army Officer and Chief of Army Staff to the best of my ability. I may not have achieved all my objectives and targets for the Nigerian Army but Nigerians know that I left it far better than I met it.
“There is no area or facet of the Nigerian Army that our leadership has not touched and transformed. Is it troops’ welfare or training and re-training? Is it infrastructural and manpower development or safeguarding the democratic institution of our country? Is it the counter-insurgency operations against insurgents, terrorists and other criminal gangs? Name it.
“We crushed Boko Haram in less than two years but they got international support from Al-Baghadadi and formed ISWAP after that; we did our best. So I have no regrets whatsoever. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to serve, and the guidance He gave me to serve meritoriously. Most of the crop of leaders we have in the Army today received some form of mentorship and leadership training from me, and they are all doing well today.
Ambassador Buratai is a combination of strength and character, whose deep thoughts gave birth to numerous interventions that repositioned the Nigerian Army. Aside from the combat efficiency of the Nigerian Army, which was at its peak during his tenure, he was able to make tangible introductions that many thought could not be achieved.
A good example is the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) established in 2015 to offer creative decision-making ideas and systematic frameworks while helping to bridge important strategic and operational capacity gaps in providing workable, practical solutions to pertinent national defence and security issues. The Centre is designed to help the Nigerian Army make a positive difference in optimizing Nigeria’s national security and state-building and Nigeria’s role as a positive regional peace and security contributor.
Another worthy example is the establishment of the Nigerian Army University, designed for developing middle and high-level manpower in the areas of technological empowerment for civilians and the appreciation for military policy, logistics and strategy. It’s also a centre of innovation and technological development to meet the ever-changing and rapid development in the dynamics of modern warfare. This is another brilliant one.
During his tenure as Army Chief, Buratai initiated a range of activities in support of developing the force through intensive training, mentoring, partnering, monitoring and empowering. His efforts in this regard included setting up the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies in Biu, Borno State; Command Secondary School (Boys & Girls) in Kebbi State, another one in Saki Oyo State, Nigerian Army Aviation hangar at Jaji Airstrip, Kaduna, the production of the indigenous Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles designed and built by Command Engineering Depot in collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Activation of Divisions Training Schools; establishment of various post housing schemes, Army Warrant Officers Board; the Nigerian Army Special Forces School; First Nigerian Army indigenous infantry patrol vehicle; Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command and the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company.
In addition, he established Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches. General Buratai also built and commissioned various housing projects across all the Nigerian Army formations. As Army Chief, he also renovated a lot of projects he met on the ground and initiated various water projects and also the Supply and Transport of Foods and new Command Guest Houses. It is believed that, in terms of projects, capacity building, training and welfare, throughout Buratai’s tenure as COAS, there was never a dull moment.
As we celebrate with Ambassador Buratai on this Election as a Distinguished Fellow and Patron of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, it is a statement of fact that the Almighty Allah, the great architect of the universe, the incomparable God, had fashioned him as a builder of men, a humanist, an extra ordinary mentor, a pacesetter and a great leader.
This article was contributed by Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi.
