Buratai  and the art of patriotism

All hail the reformed and disciplined Nigerian Army. Even those who maliciously hated you in the past have keenly observed both your private and official actions in the last three years and Nigerians fete you with accolades as venerated institution.  The phrase drops on every lip and everywhere in shocking pleasantness.

The Army has proved skeptics wrong; it has triumphed over masked enemies who plotted and set booby traps on their official paths to cascade the failure of soldiers to erupt in indiscernible joy. Unfortunately, these esteemed soldiers have not fumbled in all national engagements as anticipated by the anti-progressive forces.  Instead, they are soaring higher with each given opportunity.

The Army’s  deployment to assist civil security secure the country  to conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible presidential and national assembly elections in Nigeria has also been performed with exceptional splendor, in spite of the initial upbraids.  Army personnel exuded unquestionable patriotism and loyalty to their country, by keeping faith with their creed of service.

Soldiers dispensed this assignment in a manner which has further conferred palms on it as an institution and intensified the respect earned from Nigerians previously.   Today, Nigerians and indeed, the international community are regaled that the country has successfully gone through the first round of the 2019 general elections without any major setback.  The Army played a significant role in preventing the elections from degenerating into free and unbridled violence.

Much thanks to the COAS and leader of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai.  He is a leader, who does not just bark to his personnel. He sleeps and eats patriotism for his country and constantly evolves way to restructure the Army in accordance with global best practices.  When he steps out with his foot soldiers on any special assignment, brooding enemies of Nigeria take cover and allow peace to reign.

The Army Chief cherishes peace infinitely, but does not brook the effrontery of armed gangs who are out to violently destroy and ruin the security and peace of Nigeria.  The peace and unity of Nigeria is always uppermost on his mind at all times.

So, consistently, Gen. Buratai pictures national interest at heart. And when he scowls, it is not intended to harm the innocent, but to squeeze the juice out of hardened armed gangs and militias tormenting the peace loving and law-abiding Nigerians. That’s why, he has adopted the “carrot and stick,” approach in his engagement of the Nigerian people.  Armed criminal gangs only incur his wrath when they ignore the carrot of peace dangled at them. It is what defines his official posturing in all assignments.

Rather than see it as an aberration, Gen. Buarati persuaded Nigerians to view the Army as apolitical and or neutral and their deployment for election duties was only part of a core constitutional responsibility of securing the nation. It becomes expedient where civil security fails or is likely to fail.

Gen. Buratai yelled in his post-election assessment, “When a General Speaks on national issues, he speaks strategy, not politics. It is a way and a means to an end. Therefore, the end result will be national defence and security.  It is also to foster national unity, peace, development and protection of human rights.”

And truly, Nigerians can verify that after the general elections, the end result is the sustenance of national security and defence.   And this is the spirit that guided the operations of the Army throughout the duration of the general elections. They were after national security and defence alone; they never brooked those who attempted to compromise it.