LIEUTENANT GENERAL TUKUR YUSUF BURUTAI: WAR VETERAN AND GENTLEMAN OFFICER

LIEUTENANT GENERAL TUKUR YUSUF BURUTAI: WAR VETERAN AND GENTLEMAN OFFICER

The appointment of Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Burutai as Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff came at an opportune time. The war in the North-East was raging like an unquenchable fire while the morale of our gallant men and women of the Nigerian Army was at its lowest ebb. Posterity will give a holistic, comprehensive assessment of the tenure of the Chief of Army Staff, but it is worth the while to state that, in the interim, General Buratai is on the right track to reposition our military institution.

With the launch of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE by General Burutai, the war against Boko Haram insurgents took a marked turn. Pundits and political commentators are at liberty to cogitate on the poser whether we are winning the war against Boko Haram or not, but to keen observers, it is clear that the Nigerian Army under General Burutai has achieved appreciable, measurable success in its bid to rout out insurgents from the North-East. Naturally, General Burutai's experience as former Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force comes in handy, as he heads the nation's army.

The gentlemen officers of the Nigerian Army are usually well-read with fine manners. With 2 degrees, one in History and the other in Philosophy, and sufficient cognate experience, General Burutai has the advantage of having his reputation precede him. As the Commander 2 Brigade Port Harcourt and Sector Commander Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield, General Burutai ensured that there was improved security in Rivers and Bayelsa states. A decorated war veteran, and recipient of several military honours (including the Meritorious Service Star and Distinguished Service Star), General Burutai heroically led the fight against oil theft, piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery in the Niger Delta. To his credit, the barracks infrastructure in Port Harcourt was greatly improved.

Till the appointment of General Burutai as Chief of Army staff, the nation had not seen a military officer who led from the front. If General Burutai is not visiting troops on the frontline or paying unscheduled visits to military formations for inspection, he is either engaged in work-out or training drills with the soldiers or sharing a convivial moment with them on festive occasions, where the rigid wall between officer and private is temporarily broken. All these boost the morale of our soldiers in a major way.

The recent gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states have also shown the professional trait of the Nigerian Army. Refusing to take sides with any of the political parties, including the ruling party, the Nigerian Army kept the peace while maintaining its neutrality. Kudos to the Chief of Army Staff who, like his Commander-in-Chief, belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody.

The Media Vanguard for Change (MVC) expresses confidence in General Tukur Burutai and the men and women of the Nigerian Army as they continue to protect Nigeria's territorial integrity while maintaining internal security.

Victoriam a solo Deo est.

#MVC
#TheTruthMustPrevail

Signed:

Ordinance Emeji
Director-General,
MVC.

Miss Mercy Ugo
Secretary,
MVC.

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