Tinubu campaign: TY Buratai as a strategic choice

I am excited by the news of the appointment of Lt Gen TY Buratai (retd) as the deputy director for security and intelligence for the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 presidential elections.

This is indeed a masterstroke because the credentials of the former chief of army staff are towering and loaded with experience in security administration in Nigeria. This fact, I guess, necessitated his inclusion in the campaign train of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

I dare say Ambassador TY Buratai is rare. He is an institution of learning with his wealth of experience. His sacrifices for the entrenchment and sustenance of our nascent democracy remain a reference point in the country’s annals. That aside, we might want to recall his passion and patriotism during his stint as the Chief of Army Staff, at a period where the territorial integrity of the country was threatened from several fronts.

Lt Gen TY Buratai (retd) not only revitalized the operations of the Nigerian Army, he indeed put his life on the line to ensure that Nigeria remains one strong and indivisible country. As I have mentioned in times past, a few Nigerians have demonstrated an unalloyed commitment to sustainable growth and development. They have also displayed their loyalty to the people and the country in numerous ways.

Lt. Gen TY Buratai falls under such category, and what stands him out, in my opinion, is his area of core competence, the sensitive security sector. Initially, I wondered if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of the necessity to have such a man in his camp as he prepares for the onerous task of leading this county if he emerges victorious at the poll.

And the recent appointment indeed put to rest my wonderment. This indicates the ability of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to identify talents and the capacity to put them to work for the country’s interest.

Indeed, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be requiring the wealth of experience of Buratai to marshal strategies that assist in revamping the security architecture in the country if he is elected president.

I say this for a couple of reasons. Chiefly amongst them is that TY Buratai successfully saw the smooth transition of one government to the other in 2019 despite the avalanche of challenges that confronted the country at the time. We experienced a seamless transition because of his allegiance to the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

He ensured that plans to scuttle our democracy by unscrupulous elements remain stillbirth. The Nigerian Army stayed true to the Constitution despite the overtures by enemies of the country. And as often said, the Nigerian Army under Gen Buratai remained the bastion of our democracy.

Also, it is on record that as the chief of army staff, Ambassador TY Buratai introduced far-reaching reforms in the operations of the Nigerian Army that saw the numerous successes recorded in the war against Boko Haram terrorists in North East Nigeria, as well as the activities of militant and separatist groups across the country.

Let us also remember that Nigeria was on the brink of security threats. Upon his appointment, he hit the ground running. In less than a year, the Nigerian Army took control of the operational headquarters of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Sambisa forest. The Nigerian Army moved from a defensive operational tactic to an offensive counter-insurgency operation that saw the decimation of the group and its remnants scampering towards the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

All territories hitherto under the control of the Boko Haram group were liberated, and life returned to these communities. The exploits of Ambassador TY Buratai are innumerable. And the awards were never in short supply. What does this say about him? It gives us a picture of a man who combined intellect and passion for delivering when it matters for the country’s benefit. Let’s make no mistakes. It can only take a man with a broad perspective of the country’s security architecture to bring about such accomplishment in the course of his brilliant career in the Nigerian Army.

I also need to mention that in generalship, there are generals amongst generals, and there is no doubt that Ambassador TY Buratai is a general amongst generals. This much he exhibited and has seen to the professionalism of the Nigerian Army in recent times.

Therefore, it is my opinion that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has spotted these qualities in Ambassador TY Buratai and his conscription into the campaign team to put his wealth of experience to use in the critical security sector in Nigeria.

This is smart, and I believe it was for strategic purposes. Those that know Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu closely have always maintained that he is a proactive leader that plans and never seizes to utilize talents and opportunities at the slightest prompting. Many Nigerians might be aware, but I think the recent developments concerning the quality of his campaign team should give Nigerians a cause for excitement.

Undoubtedly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would make a good president. There is also no doubt that as president, Nigerians would see the best of talent and passion at work for the interest and betterment of the country. Take it or leave it; Nigeria will work under a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. Round pegs would be placed in round holes. Men and women of character would be of service to the country. And Nigeria shall again regain its pride of place in the comity of nations.

I dare say that the hopes and expectations from a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency have been motioned with the coming onboard of Ambassador TY Buratai. I trust he will display his passion for the country in his characteristic manner in this new role.

Nigerians should work towards the coming onboard of a Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidency. The country would be better for it.

Adeniran is a strategic communications expert based in Lagos.