The Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi as well as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya were among several dignitaries that eulogized the great exploits of Ambassador Tukur Buratai at a book presentation in his honour held in Abuja.
Yahaya Bello who lauded the efforts of Buratai while serving as Chief of Army Staff for the peace enjoyed in Kogi today said the war against insecurity can only be won with sincerity from leaders and Nigerians.
Bello said the country cannot progress if leaders don’t look inward and ensure they are sincere to wage war against insecurity.
Speaking at the public presentationof the book, “The Great Exploits of Buratai”. Bello said the safety of Nigerians cannot be assured if the country is not secured.
He said: “Until Nigeria is secured, starting from our homes, then nobody is safe. I want all leaders to look inward and ensure we are sincere as leaders. Whatever we are doing, we must be sincere about it, if not, even if we have angels as President, Governors and as service chiefs, if we are not sincere, a little will be achieved in securing our lands.
“Leadership is the major solution to insecurity, it is not the only president that can show leadership, we can provide leadership in our various homes, constituencies and in all our areas of responsibilities.
Bello, while Commending the former Chief of Staff and Ambassador to Republic of Benin, Lt-General Tukur Buratai (rtd) for playing a great role in the stability of peace in Kogi state and Nigeria, he said his administration brought an end to bombing in Nigeria.
“Buratai brought to a halt bombing which was the order of the day in Nigeria. This is a great achievement”, he said.
He however urged the Director General of the National Orientation Agency to educate Nigerians on the importance of leadership.
“There should be a way that all Nigerians are sensitized about our roles and responsibility, no matter how we deploy the Nigerian army to tackle insecurity, if we don’t have a change of heart and be sincere, we will go nowhere.
Speaking, Buratai while commending the guest speakers informed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership has brought relative peace to the country which everyone is enjoying today.
He said: “We are all witnesses to the security situations we faced, but today we have seen remarkable changes”.
“My tenure truly was challenging and also we came at a challenging period of the nation, surely we rose to the challenge with the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It was a determination spured by patriotism, commitment and sacrifice.
“I urge Nigerian youths to always strive towards patriotism and be ready to sacrifice for the nation, for it is only through sacrifice and patriotism that we can progress as a nation.
“The book reviewer, Professor . Udenta did state and rightly that Buratai is a consequential figure, but also a controversial, this is right. I thought that when I was appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Buhari in 2015, I thought I would be the least controversial of Army Chief of staff, because I read how controversies were made an issue about my predecessors, I said no, this time around I am determined to be less controversial, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a different thing, and off course, more controversial.
“The more opposition I faced the more bolder I became, I realized the true complexity of our polity and off course our society, but my greatest strengths was Mr. President’s support. Buhari supported me all true.
“Submissive position of the military to civil authority, subordination to civil authority is key to the progress and development of the Military. The Military must continue to support the civil authority and carry out legitimate orders and others, and this is the way forward for us” he said
