President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the leadership and service of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), saying the documentation of his tenure would provide valuable lessons for present and future military commanders and policymakers.
Tinubu stated this on Wednesday in Abuja in a speech delivered on his behalf 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.
Warrens represented the President at the public presentation of the book, Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, authored by M.S. Abubakar.
The event was held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja, and attracted serving and retired military officers, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers, academics, business leaders and journalists.
Tinubu congratulated the author, the Buratai Legacy Presentation Committee, the publishers and others involved in the production of the book, stressing the importance of preserving the nation’s military history.
He said, “Nations that preserve the experience of their institutions and leaders create valuable resources from which succeeding generations can learn.”
The President noted that the book documented Buratai’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff while contributing to discussions on military leadership, institutional reform and national security.
According to him, Buratai’s tenure came at a challenging period when Nigeria was confronted with terrorism, insurgency and other asymmetric security threats, placing enormous demands on the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army.
He said the period tested leadership, discipline, courage, innovation and the ability of the military 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.
“Their service forms an important part of Nigeria’s contemporary military history,” Tinubu said.
The President noted that the publication examined several aspects of military leadership beyond battlefield operations, including doctrine, training, morale, logistics, troop welfare, institutional development and civil-military relations.
He added that transformational leadership was not limited to winning battles but also involved building institutions capable of responding to emerging threats and preparing future leaders.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s security environment had continued to evolve, with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent criminality, oil theft and organised crime posing serious challenges to national peace and development.
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 President also said the government was 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.
He said investments were also being made in modern equipment, technology and personnel development, stressing that emerging security challenges could not be effectively tackled with outdated tools and methods.
However, Tinubu emphasised 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.
He 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.
The President also called for sustained attention to the welfare, training, morale and professional development of security personnel and their families.
He 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.
Tinubu further stressed that military action, although indispensable in confronting violent threats, remained only one component of sustainable national security.
He identified intelligence, effective policing, justice, border management, community engagement and economic opportunities as other critical components of national security.
According to him, security is a collective responsibility requiring cooperation among government, 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 necessary political support, resources and strategic direction 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 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.
