society
A Personal Reflection on Service, Sacrifice, and Unfounded Attacks
Defending Service: Why the Attacks on Buratai Are Unfair and Unfounded
By Nazir Ribadu
Sometimes, watching public figures get dragged through the mud tells you less about them and more about the state of our public discourse.
As someone who studies Nigeria’s security landscape, not from a news desk but through the dry, factual lens of academic and operational history, the recent allegations against former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai (rtd.) hit a particular nerve. They don’t just seem wrong, they feel like a profound injustice against a man who gave decades of his life to this country.
Let’s be clear: I’ve never met General Buratai. I have no personal connection to him. My “relationship” with his career is through after-action reports, strategy papers, and the timelines of battles fought in our Northeast. And from that vantage point, the idea that he was somehow in cahoots with the very terrorists he was tasked with destroying isn’t just illogical; it’s an insult to the painful, gritty reality of that war.
Think about the sheer human contradiction of that claim. This is the officer who, for years, bore the immense weight of command during one of our nation’s most brutal conflicts. His days and nights were consumed by the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP.
As a Security and Intelligence Analyst, we studied the tactical shifts under his command, the difficult pivot to the “Super Camp” strategy, the push to retake and hold territory. These weren’t abstract concepts; they were decisions that affected the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
To suggest that the man at the helm of that struggle was secretly funding the enemy doesn’t add up. It collapses under the weight of its own absurdity.
Where is the proof?
In our world, serious allegations are backed by evidence, arrests, indictments, formal investigations. But here, there’s only silence from every official quarter: the EFCC, the DSS, our financial intelligence units. Nothing!!
Instead, the entire case seems to be built on whispers and “anonymous sources” funneled through an outlet, Sahara Reporters, with a troubling track record.
And this is where it becomes personal. We’ve seen this pattern before. Just recently, the Plateau State government had to publicly condemn a false report about a bomb blast in Jos. A story that caused real panic.
Also, Ekiti State officials have detailed how their financial data was misrepresented to create a false narrative. They had to condemn the report made by Sahara Reporters.
When an outlet repeatedly gets things so wrong, often with consequences that hurt communities and reputations, it loses the benefit of the doubt. It starts to look less like journalism and more like a weapon.
Is it so hard to believe that a man who held one of the toughest jobs in Nigeria, who inevitably had to make decisions that upset powerful people, is now a target for those seeking “a pound of flesh”?
What gets lost in this noise is the human story of service. This was a 40-year career that culminated in the hottest of seats.
Whatever your political views, the man served. He faced a monstrous enemy and, according to the military’s own records, achieved hard-fought gains: territories were reclaimed, key terrorist commanders were neutralized.
In a sane society, we would at least be able to separate honest critique of strategy from vile character assassination. We should be debating his legacy, not defending his basic loyalty.
That’s what saddens me the most. We have a habit of tearing down our own, especially once they leave the stage.
Instead of a nuanced conversation about security policy, we get baseless scandals. General Buratai is a case study, literally, I use his tenure in some of my classes, in military leadership under extreme pressure. He deserves to have that record discussed based on facts, not vapor.
So, from one citizen to another, I find this whole episode tragic. If we disagree with a leader’s methods, let’s argue about that. But to spray poison on a man’s entire life’s work with no evidence? That doesn’t make us clever investigators. It makes us ingrate.
General Buratai has every right to demand a retraction, not just for his own name, but to push back against a culture of lies that cheapens the very concept of sacrifice for this nation.
Somewhere underneath the general’s uniform and the headlines is a human being who served Nigeria. That, at the very least, deserves our basic fairness.
Nazir Ribadu
PhD Security Studies and International Relations.
Security and Intelligence Analyst.
society
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship
OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture: Sheikh Jamiu Asanbe Urges Muslims to Avoid Showboating in Worship.
The Chief Imam of Agelete Central Mosque, Ikoyi Lagos, Alhaji Jamiu Asanbe, has urged Muslims to remain sincere in their acts of worship and avoid the temptation of seeking public praise for good deeds.
The respected Islamic scholar gave this admonition while delivering a lecture at the OWUTU FM 2026 Ramadan Lecture, held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Lagos.
Speaking on the importance of sincerity in Islam, Sheikh Asanbe cautioned Muslim faithful against what he described as “showboating” — the practice of performing charitable acts or religious duties merely to gain recognition or admiration from others.
According to him, every act of worship in Islam must be done purely for the sake of Almighty Allah.
He explained that while acts such as prayer, fasting, and charity are fundamental pillars of faith, their true value lies in the intention behind them.
The cleric therefore encouraged Muslims to remain genuine in their devotion and avoid mixing their faith with the desire for worldly praise or attention.
Sheikh Asanbe also reminded the faithful that the holy month of Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for spiritual renewal. He urged believers to increase acts of generosity, particularly by supporting the needy, vulnerable members of society, and orphans.
Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of the Ramadan Lecture and CEO of OWUTU FM, Hajia Adejoke Muyibat Balogun, encouraged attendees to use the sacred month as a time for reflection, self-improvement, and community development.
She described the lecture theme as carefully selected to promote spirituality, strengthen faith, and encourage peaceful coexistence within the community.
Balogun expressed appreciation to the numerous guests and supporters who attended the event, noting that their presence reflected the strong bond within the community.
She further reaffirmed OWUTU FM’s commitment to sustaining the annual Ramadan Lecture, praying for Allah’s continued guidance and mercy in the years ahead.
The 2026 edition of the Ramadan Lecture attracted dignitaries and representatives from various organisations including Uzamot Communications, Okutex Fabrics, and the Yeye Asiwaju of Ojota Kingdom.
The event also featured engaging activities such as a quiz competition, where winners were presented with gifts. In the spirit of Ramadan, iftar meals were shared with guests, reinforcing the values of unity, generosity, and compassion that define the holy month.
Through initiatives like this, OWUTU FM continues to play a vital role in promoting faith-based dialogue, community engagement, and social harmony.
Tinubu Abroad, Nigeria in Chaos: The Spectacle of Elite Excess
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“Government officials queue to bid him farewell as he departs, only to rush ahead and line up again to welcome him at his destination; a stark display of misaligned priorities in Nigerian leadership.”
Wednesday, March18, 2026
In a spectacle that has plunged Nigeria’s political class into fresh ignominy, a long line of federal ministers, governors, senators and political hangers‑on queued outside a London hotel this week to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR upon his arrival in the United Kingdom for a two‑day state visit.
Not only did these government officials send off Mr. Tinubu as he departed Nigeria (a ritual in itself excessive given the scale of pressing national crises) they rushed ahead to London to line the halls of his hotel, applauding and greeting him like conquering heroes arriving on foreign shores. This is how Nigeria’s elites now comport themselves while millions of citizens endure ever‑deepening hardship.
A Travesty of Priorities
Tinubu’s visit to the UK, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, is officially billed as an effort to deepen trade relations, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Britain and Africa’s most populous nation. While those diplomatic objectives in theory could benefit Nigeria, the optics of an entire political class fawning over a president abroad are unbearably grim against the backdrop of domestic suffering.
According to recent economic analysis, despite macroeconomic adjustments such as ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira, more than 60% of Nigerians still live in poverty and daily hardships are rampant. Security remains a grave concern with violence and banditry destabilising large swathes of the country. Instead of addressing these crises with urgency, Nigeria’s leadership appears fascinated with photo‑ops overseas.
“A System of Self‑Centred Elites”
Critics within Nigeria have not minced words. Political observers describe the spectacle as a display of self‑centred politics divorced from the realities facing ordinary citizens. One observer on social platforms summed up the broader sentiment: “Tinubu represents a system of self‑centred elites (elite consensus over popular will) and this is exactly the performative politics that lines like these embody.”
Dr. Godfrey Mwakikagile, a respected African scholar on post‑colonial governance, has long warned that bad leadership and lack of accountability are Africa’s greatest challenges. “Power in many African states is too centralised and concentrated in the hands of elites who use it to perpetuate themselves at the expense of the public good,” Mwakikagile recently argued; a critique that resonates all the more when ministers fly abroad not to pursue tangible policy but to line up like admirers.
The Cost of Foreign Pageantry
This isn’t the first time Tinubu’s foreign engagements have attracted scrutiny. His administration’s frequent travels (often with large entourages) have drawn criticism for prioritising optics over outcomes, especially when Nigeria’s economy contracts and its people struggle with food inflation and insecurity.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been among the most vocal domestic critics of these priorities, noting that Tinubu’s extensive foreign travel (including to the UK) distracts from urgent national needs and has become a “matter of grave concern.” Obi insists that such actions reveal a leadership more interested in global visibility than domestic wellbeing.
Nigeria Jagajaga!
The phrase “Nigeria jagajaga” (loosely translated as Nigeria being in disarray) has never felt more apt. A nation where ministers greet presidents in plush foreign suites while citizens queue for food and services is a country deeply out of balance.
Instead of being welcomed like dignitaries abroad, ministers and governors should be at home addressing the root causes of Nigeria’s struggles: insecurity that displaces communities and kills livelihoods, an economy that leaves the majority impoverished despite reforms, and the persistent failings of governance that erode public trust.
What Nigerians Deserve
President Tinubu and his entourage should be judged not by the number of ministers who lined up to greet him in London, but by the lives changed back in Nigeria.
As scholars like Mwakikagile and critics like Obi remind us, political leadership must be accountable and grounded in service, not spectacle. Nigeria’s leaders owe the people more than applause at international hotels; they owe them safety, economic opportunity, and genuine progress.
If this nation is ever to break free from the cycle of “jagajaga,” then those in power must demonstrate sincerity, not pageantry; action, not admiration. The lines outside a London hotel are not a testament to leadership; they are a testament to where Nigeria’s priorities have tragically come to rest.
GENERAL BULAMA BIU MOURNS VICTIMS OF BORNO ATTACKS, CALLS FOR UNITY AND VIGILANCE**
In a solemn and heartfelt message, Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu (Rtd), mni, the Sarkin Yakin Biu, has expressed profound grief over the recent tragic incidents of bomb explosions in Maiduguri and renewed violent attacks in several communities across Borno State.
This was contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to the press.
The retired senior military officer described the assaults which affected areas including Ngoshe, Mandiragirau, Ajiri, and Buratai as “cruel and most barbaric,” particularly as they occurred during a period of deep religious observance for many residents. General Biu extended his condolences to His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State, the people of the state, and especially the immediate families of the victims.
“These unfortunate attacks have painfully led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties, a painful reminder of the challenges we continue to face as a people,” he stated.
General Biu prayed that Almighty Allah grants the deceased eternal rest (Jannatul Firdaus) and grants the injured a speedy recovery. He also commended the bravery and swift response of security agencies and emergency responders, acknowledging their tireless efforts to protect lives and restore peace in the state.
Addressing the resilient people of Borno, including elders, community leaders, associations, and the vibrant youth, General Biu urged steadfastness, unity, and increased vigilance. “Let us once again rejig our commitment and ensure we overcome this development. We have done it in time past, we can still do it now together,” he emphasized.
He further called on citizens not to allow “these cowardly acts to break our spirit or weaken our collective resolve to achieve lasting peace and stability.”
In strong terms, General Biu declared his solidarity with Governor Zulum, the state government, stakeholders, and all well-meaning citizens in condemning the attacks. He concluded his message with a prayer: “May Allah (SWT) bring lasting peace to Borno State and the entire nation.”
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