Buratai, who said this on Friday in Maiduguri, Borno State, at the closing of the Chief of Army Staff Conference, pointed out that there had been “clear leadership failures” among commanders which he said they must work on.
The conference, which was attended by the top brass of the Nigerian Army, was held at the Command Centre, Marmalari Contonment, Maiduguri, to re-strategise on the next level for the army in the fight against insurgency in the country.
Against the backdrop of the recent attacks on troops, the army chief accused the commanders of not doing much to go after Boko Haram terrorists.
“Your offensive posture has been very faulty on the threat of Boko Haram terrorists who have been tormenting the people,” Buratai said, adding that there was no time anymore for being on the defensive.
“I want you to be on the offensive so that you will instil fear in the enemies. This is an asymmetric warfare, so you should be ready to be flexible at all times. I have shown much interaction with the soldiers on the field so that you know I am with you at all times,” he added.
General Buratai said he was fulfilled looking back at the achievements so far recorded by the army, noting that it was high time the officers and men built on their capacity.
While calling on the troops to ensure that the decisions taken at this level were implemented at all costs, General Buratai commended the officers and men who had contributed to his success as their chief in the last three and a half years.
The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, expressed sadness that some Nigerians had introduced politics to the killing of Nigerian troops by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.
The governor, who declared the conference closed, said the death of fellow Nigerians in uniform was not a matter for political comments or happiness.
According to him, the way in which some Nigerians were retweeting the gory sites of the loss of the Nigerian Army on the social media and making political comments was really condemnable and not in the interest of politics which he said caused such callous moves.
Shettima assured the high-ranking army officers at the event that he did not only condemn the action of some of his colleagues but he was with the army in the fight against insurgency.
He commended the Nigerian Army for growing from where they were before the arrival of General Buratai to where they were now, adding that the army had some of the best brains for the cross-pollination of ideas to recreate themselves for future challenges.
Commending the army for the presentation of 29 vehicles for warrant officers, the governor pledged the sum of N100,000 each for the benefitting warrant officers.
He said he was grateful for the role of the warrant officers in keeping the state and its people safe and making the state better than he met it.
Highlight of the ceremony were slide shows of his achievements which included the repairs of about 60 barracks in the last three and a half years.
Others were the purchase of about 3,000 vehicles, motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers.
A compendium of his achievements in pictures and book format were also launched by Governor Shettima, who was the special guest of honour.
and then