Walking down the months with all hands on the deck, realizing it’s going to be a conundrum getting into a decision about our man of the year 2018,
there’s a soft jingle in the winds — who does the cap fit.
Without notice, an involuntary glance and an intuition to more than a glance but to read up the title at hand made all the difference in what could have been a sort of difficult situation.
Further enquiries reveals the Chief of Army Staff is still in Borno state as at the time of writing this article… And something struck me:
Here’s the Army Chief, not in the comfort zone, yet it is Christmas and the new year celebrations, but the man of steel is a soldier still, who has been a custodian of his crew and troops, showing leadership, even at these times…!
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He is the Chief of Army Staff, yet as long as there is a war on terror going on, he has been a resident at the war front.
I have come to see a man that approaches each day with a desire for excellence, while never overlooking an opportunity to lend a helping hand to his troops.
His officers look to him for stability in an ever-changing war environment, where the format is not dealing with a conventional army nor dealing with a conventional war.
His troops depend on his leadership and guidance. While his Commander-in-Chief depends on his forthright judgement.
For his more than 27 years of contribution to the Nigerian Army, first as a member of the 29 Regular Combatant Course, and after the successful completion of his Officer Cadet training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 17 December 1983 into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army.
Buratai has a degree in History from University of Maiduguri and a degree in Philosophy from Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.
After more than two decades as a senior officer in the Nigerian Army, he has worked hard to keep the war on terror active, since his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff in 2015.
By developing a virtually demoralized and ill-equipped army that he met, providing the type of enduring leadership that is so very visible today, it is only right to give some honour to whom honor is due.
For his dedication and contributions to the military sector, especially at these times that Nigeria is faced with the kind of unprecedented multitasking security issues ranging from herdsmen/Farmers clashes, the terror of Boko Haram, the insurgencies of foreign Banditry, the menace of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the terrorist activities of the Banned Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), to the inter-tribal clashes and also the covert attempt by some foreign organizations to undermine our security and foreign policies all happening at the same time, the Chief of Army Staff deserves to be commended for an unusual ability and capacity to hold the nation together.
Lt General Tukur Buratai, has instituted changes to make the Nigerian Army more accessible, more humane as to embark on community service works, to the extent that the people of this country no longer have to fear for the usual Temperamental soldier as the more friendly soldier are the commonplace sighting.
Soldiers are now engaged in more conferences and seminars more than before with a marked positive improvement in Military/Civilian relations.
The production of locally made military hardwares and the procurement of military suplies vehicles from Nigerian manufacturing companies are all due to the man Buratai.
Innoson motor manufacturing company is a huge beneficiary of Buratai’s policy to always look inwards for procurement of military vehicles.
He has continued to support the army by training soldiers at every level to continue with his conviction that only a fully trained professional soldier is fit to be incorporated into the army.
For his other contributions to building a strong military leadership structure, Buratai has decentralized the command structure, placing the commands right in the field of battle rather than at the comfort zones of Abuja and elsewhere.
As we speak, General Buratai is in the North East, leading his men into battle from the fronts.
Buratai is a long-time contributor to the now established and entrenched policy of adequate welfare package for soldiers, which he has personally ensured its implementation — Including adequate care for the wounded and the incapacitated.
As a serving Chief of Army Staff, Buratai has devoted much time and effort to producing quality officer cadets. His extensive involvement has included participation in everything from proposing engaging topics, securing courses abroad, and organizing facility and audio-visual logistics for intelligence, reconnaissance activities and surveys as support systems to the war on terror and insurgencies.
He is also contributing his knowledge as a thoroughbred professional soldier who has gone through many training Programmes home and abroad and also as a one time facilitator himself.
As the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, since 2015, General Buratai has proved his loyalty to the state and nation by his unalloyed support to help rid this nation of all our security issues.
Buratai has continually promoted learning between the polity and the military through hosting of town hall meetings, provision of medical facilities free of charge to the communities, provision of amenities like boreholes in many communities and much more. Periodic holding of military/civil meetings and seminars, have helped in exposing future professionals to the creative business, and technical realms of farming and other local productions of simple technology.
For his dedication and service to Nigeria in the course of his three years as COAS , General Buratai has served with Diligence and Forthrightness, taking on the additional roles of role model, father, friend and brother to every injured soldier, visiting them at home and in their various hospitals.. A True leader.
Always working behind the scenes to ensure the success of his troops at the war front, joining them in the real war zones providing the necessary morale to boost the spirit of his fighting soldiers.
For close to three decades of service to fatherland, which includes seventeen years as a senior officer and in the last three years, as Chief of Army Staff, the crucial period in which the highly focused officer and a gentleman has provided over 100 Section training programs and workshops, for all cadres of the army establishment, an unprecedented period in so short a time that his aim is truly to deliver a well trained and truly professional Nigerian Army that the country can be proud of.
Providing also the premiere technical logistics back-up for the men on the field, a mobile on-the-go resource for the new improved mobility management regime for combatant soldiers to cope well in the field of battle with near seamless replenishment mechanisms only available to a truly modern army.
Lt General Tukur Yusufu Buratai is our man of the year, for meeting the challenges his predecessors met, but refusing to make the mistakes his predecessors made. The dozens of failures of the previous army Chiefs to check terror and insurgencies, he has avoided by embarking on image documentation, organized tours into the war front in which the prescient quote, “seeing is believing” has highlighted the believability of the claims of the army to have greatly degraded and technically defeated terrorism.
His images of the Sambisa forests, thousands of freed captives, especially more that half of the Chibok girls and the entire Dapchi girls, minus Leah Sharibu who unfortunately is still in captivity.
All of these events have provided a rich visual record of the army’s activities which we must admit are unprecedented.
For General Tukur Yusufu Buratai’s instrumental work in revitalizing the communication aspect of information handling, that delicate balance of positively building an hitherto battered image and rebuilding it into a contributing part of the Society, a man of the year is here simply presented.
In reestablishing the production of small arms locally, and incorporating streaming of local content into the services of the army in a wider, functional way, and providing increased value to the pride of each individual soldier, the army Chief has done a yeoman’s job.
And… For nearly three decade’s of leadership of an unwavering commitment to his passion, to his profession, where he has served with tenacity, drive, and enthusiasm all of which have made the Nigerian Army a healthy organization from a moribund immediate past with a positive future that no one can deny. Fellow country men, Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you our man of the year 2018, Lt General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, who is also a graduate of National Defence College, Mirpur, Bangladesh, a former Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, earning the prestigious “Pass Staff College Dagger” Psc.
Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai is the ideal candidate for the man of the year because he approaches his job with a strong sense of integrity.
He truly cares about doing a good job, helping his fellow officers and soldiers to boost their morale and providing a service that is integral to the functioning organization that the army is meant to be at these trying times.
Buratai is our nominee because his contribution to the war against Terror, is immense.
He is not only vital to the prosecution of the war, but in serving as the Army Chief, he is the person who oversees things throughout the very army formations in all the 36 states of the Federation!
A man of a certain stern face, yet he lightens their load and adds joy to their day as his soldiers are wont to say.
Sometimes soldiers are fearful of him — that goes with the job, but they love him as he commands the utmost respects throughout the rank and file.
Many journalists initially are sceptical about him…but all they have to do is meet Buratai and they quickly feel comfortable and trusting in his presence to provide adequate information makes him a journalist’s delight ….!
It is a luxury for a young reporter to be able to count on Buratai’s stunning work ethic, upbeat and people-centered attitude, ability to work with minimal military/civilian tension, a talent that is distinguished by both grace and precision.
…It is often said that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression—a maxim that applies as much to institutions as it does to individuals.
Tukur Yusufu Buratai has worked diligently every year since he was appointed 3 years ago to
ensure that the average negative image of the army has changed for the better.
New soldiers feel welcome and old soldiers feel secured.
Buratai is a courteous, gregarious, and accessible link between top brass military administrators and the populace.
Buratai has become a veritable expert on the ins and outs of Nigerian and international human relation practices — No matter how idiosyncratic the question, Buratai can almost always track down an answer in moments…we can refer to the various tours of the IDP’s in which Journalists are free to direct questions to him with confidence, and getting back such answers that are unambiguous, that’s one of General Buratai’s trademark.
Our Man of the year 2018, General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has fared where many has failed. In General Buratai, we have seen so many examples of self sacrifices and moral courage. I know and pray that posterity and history will continue to shower encomium on this great patriot of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria contributed this piece from Ibadan, Oyo State.
and then