ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has commended the leadership and service of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (retd.), saying the documentation of his tenure will provide valuable lessons for present and future military commanders and policymakers.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, authored by M.S. Abubakar.
The President’s speech was delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, who represented him at the event held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro.
The event brought together serving and retired military officers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, academics, business leaders and journalists.
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Tinubu congratulated the author, the Buratai Legacy Presentation Committee, publishers and others involved in the production of the book, stressing the importance of preserving Nigeria’s military history.
“Nations that preserve the experience of their institutions and leaders create valuable resources from which succeeding generations can learn,” the President said.
According to Tinubu, the publication documents Buratai’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff while contributing to wider discussions on military leadership, institutional reform and national security.
He noted that Buratai’s tenure occurred during a particularly challenging period when Nigeria was confronting terrorism, insurgency and other asymmetric security threats, placing enormous demands on the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army.
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The period, he said, tested the military’s “leadership, discipline, courage, innovation and the ability to adapt to changing security realities.”
“Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, and the officers and men who served under his command were called upon to confront these challenges under extremely demanding circumstances,” Tinubu said.
“Their service forms an important part of Nigeria’s contemporary military history,” he added.
The President said the book goes beyond battlefield operations to examine military doctrine, training, troop morale, logistics, welfare, institutional development and civil-military relations.
He explained that transformational leadership was not simply about winning battles, but also about building institutions capable of responding to emerging threats while preparing the next generation of military leaders.
Nigeria’s Evolving Security Threats
Tinubu said Nigeria’s security environment had continued to evolve, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent criminality, oil theft and organised crime posing significant challenges to national peace and development.
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He disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, surveillance, logistics and the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
The administration, he said, was also pursuing a more coordinated national security architecture, including the development of a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan.
Tinubu further said investments were being made in modern equipment, technology and personnel development, stressing that emerging threats could not be effectively confronted with outdated tools and methods.
However, he cautioned that equipment and technology alone could not guarantee national security.
“Behind every successful military operation are men and women who demonstrate courage, discipline, professionalism and sacrifice,” he said.
Tinubu Calls for Better Welfare of Security Personnel
The President acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers, airmen and women, police officers and personnel of other security agencies serving across the country, often under difficult conditions and away from their families.
He called for sustained attention to the welfare, training, morale and professional development of security personnel and their families.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians to study the experiences of the Buratai era critically and objectively, saying both its successes and difficulties should provide lessons for addressing contemporary and future security challenges.
He stressed that military action, although indispensable in confronting violent threats, remained only one component of sustainable national security.
According to him, intelligence, effective policing, justice, border management, community engagement and economic opportunities were equally critical to maintaining national security.
“Security is a collective responsibility,” Tinubu said.
He called for greater cooperation among government institutions, security agencies, communities, traditional and religious leaders, the private sector, civil society and the media.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security institutions and providing the political support, resources and strategic direction required for national defence.
He also commended Buratai for his years of service to the country and congratulated the author and organisers of the publication.
Tinubu said the relevance of the book would ultimately be measured not only by what it records about the past, but also by the lessons it provides for the future.
He expressed hope that the publication would inspire present and future commanders, military professionals, policymakers and Nigerians to appreciate leadership as a responsibility centred on “service, sacrifice and the preservation of the national interest.”
