Tukur Buratai: Past performance produces present privileges By Femi Oyewale
You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That’s the mark of a true professional. ~ Joe Paterno
Sahara Weekly Reports That Of a truth, past performance produces present privileges. This aptly describes Ambassador TukurBuratai (CFR) who remains an exceptional diplomat and whose service record speaks volumes of an unalloyed commitment to the Nigerian dream and an equally astonishing level of patriotism to those ideals that define us as a people and country.
Interestingly, only a few know that Ambassador Buratai is a humble man who is a perfect example of a man who beautifully has power but doesn’t use it. A man of few words whose compassion Is the direct opposite of the archaic impression that military men are expressionless, mean, and authoritarian.
My encounters with him during his service years as the chief of army staff and currently as the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin made me realize that he is an exceptional personality who is imbued with unusual intelligence, charisma, compassion, discipline, vision, and mission to help individuals, organizations, and nation interpret their dreams. He is a barrier breaker and a line crosser. This explains why he is grossly misunderstood by many who wonder how can one man be so favored and endowed with exceptional qualities and achievements. No wonder among his peers, he is greatly flavored.
He is a great listener with a listening ear, cool, calm, and collected. I can say with all modesty that he is not the flamboyant type. Rather, he invests in human assets by helping them to interpret their dreams and visions.
Like someone rightly recalled the lofty exploits of Ambassador Tukur Buratai while he held sway as the chief of army staff. I call those days the impeccable days in the annals of the Nigerian Army in terms of strategy and tactics; Ambassador Tukur Buratai indeed came to the party.
The way and manner he was able to turn around the fortunes of the Nigerian Army were also outstanding and in record time. From a passive situation to a combatant position in less than a year, the result was felt across the country concerning addressing the security situation in the country. That was the vintage Tukur Buratai.
Again, Ambassador Tukur Buratai contributed his quota in service to the country because the President and Commander-in-Chief recognized his capacity to deliver in that critical assignment and eventually provided the enabling environment for him to flourish.
Truth be told, his nomination as a diplomat was indeed a masterstroke by President Muhammadu Buhari toward utilizing his wealth of experience in service to the country over the years.
His Excellency’s resume is rich and replete with acts of patriotism that would make any nation green with envy. Little wonder he was among notable Nigerians conferred with National Honours by President Buhari a few days ago.
I quite agree that Buratai stands tall from the lot and I have no reservations about his strides as a politician. I am aware of his commitment to the Nigerian cause in the course of the several engagements he has had with the members of the intelligentsia community in Nigeria. He has always been robust in his thoughts and engagements which somewhat culminated in the numerous awards and engagements as a speaker in several intelligent discourses.
Buratai is a lesson in history on what patriotism entails. His passion and energy towards the Nigerian cause cannot be questioned by any well-meaning Nigerian conversant with how he led the Nigerian Army in the prosecution of the war against insurgency and others. I made bold to say that Nigeria is yet to see or tap from the multidimensional leadership qualities embedded in this great General cum Ambassador. He is indeed like a moon among the stars.
Dr. Abigail Adesina Olagbaye, CEO Desigo Tourism Development and Facility Management Company Ltd and founder, Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation, a seasoned tourism practitioner with 23 years of experience (out of which 21 years have been in Tourism), has announced her candidacy for President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), the oldest and premier tourism trade Association in Nigeria.
With a proven track record of driving innovation and sustainable growth, Dr. Olagbaye is poised to transform Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
” Her vision is to re-position ATPN as the leading voice for Nigeria’s tourism development,” Dr. Olagbaye stated. “I’m committed to empowering our members with the training, resources, and networking opportunities they need to excel in their careers and elevate industry standards.”
Dr. Olagbaye’s campaign focuses on five key objectives:
– Strengthening Industry Partnerships: Fostering collaborations and alliances that drive growth and development.
– Capacity Building: Providing training, resources and opportunities to enhance professionalism.
– Advocacy: Amplifying the voice of tourism practitioners in Nigeria and beyond.
– Tourism Promotion: Showcasing Nigeria’s hidden gems both domestically and internationally.
– Improved Member Benefits: Enhancing the overall experience for ATPN members.
Additional initiatives to consider include:
– Faith-based International Conference Tourism: Tapping into the MICE potential of faith-based tourism.
– Medical Tourism: Promoting Nigeria as a hub for medical excellence.
– Sports Tourism: Leveraging sports to drive tourism growth.
– Language Training: Enhancing language skills to improve tourist experiences.
– Youth Tourism: creating opportunities for youths to be actively engaged in Tourism leveraging their potentials, talents and energies and enabling them to benefit from the socio-economic opportunities that tourism offers.
– Agro Tourism: Develop agro-tourism as a sub-sector of Tourism through partnerships and collaboration with the ministry of agriculture to ensure regulatory support, international organisations for cross pollination of ideas and knowledge transfer and capacity building, encourage our members to organise more farm stays, rural tours, food tourism events for more authentic experiences. Advocate for infrastructural development for rural roads and other amenities. Collaborate with locals for sustainability and inclusion.
To further enhance Nigeria’s tourism industry, Dr. Olagbaye plans to create robust social media platforms for the association. This will enable people at home and abroad to access tourism companies in Nigeria with international standard websites and social media focusing on major sites.Social media being an essential tool for promoting tourism.
As the pioneer of initiatives like Africa Tourism Climate Action Forum ATCAF and Africa Tourism Day, a nouveaux initiative in Africa which she started in 2020 in collaboration with the African Tourism Board, now in its 5th edition, Dr. Olagbaye has demonstrated her passion for sustainable tourism practices and her ability to drive meaningful change. “I invite fellow tourism practitioners to join me in transforming Nigeria’s tourism landscape,” she concluded.
In a move that underscores her commitment to excellence, Sade Balogun, the mastermind behind Redbrick Homes International Limited and Amen City Ltd, has introduced TIARA Estates and Amen Estate Phase 3, expanding the renowned Amen City in a big way!
Situated in the picturesque Ibeju-Lekki area, Amen City has become synonymous with luxury and elegance. The launch of TIARA and TIARA 2.0 by Amen City Ltd soon after Amen Estate Phase 3 is set to elevate this community to new heights.
With its refined homes and superior amenities, the TIARA series embodies royalty and opulence. Amen Phase 3 enhances the living experience with modern architecture and top-tier facilities.
A nearby hospital at Amen Estate Phase 2 offers swift healthcare access, contributing to residents’ peace of mind. This proximity to medical facilities is especially important in emergencies, ensuring that help is always close by.
A large supermarket within the estate provides convenience for everyday shopping, eliminating the need for long trips to distant markets. The presence of excellent schools nearby ensures quality education for children, making it an ideal location for families. The coastal road that reduces travel time to Victoria Island to under 40 minutes makes Amen City a practical choice for professionals who need to commute to the city.
The estate 24-hour light supply from a dedicated turbine engine ensures uninterrupted power, which is a significant benefit for those seeking reliable energy solutions.
Sade Balogun’s innovative vision has transformed Amen City into a model of luxury living and community development. This expansion marks another milestone in her illustrious career, reinforcing Amen City’s status as a premier investment destination. With her ability to foresee market trends and deliver projects that exceed expectations, Sade Balogun continues to set new standards in Nigerian real estate.
In a world where the bonds of love and faith should transcend earthly judgments, Alhaja Enitanwa Muibat Lanre Shittu finds herself battling not only for justice but for the affirmation of her dignity and place within her late husband’s legacy.
Alhaja Enitanwa, the widow of renowned business mogul Lanre Shittu, faces an overwhelming injustice as she appeals a ruling by the Ifako Ijaiye Customary Court. This court dismissed her case by claiming it lacked the jurisdiction to do so.
This judgment, for Alhaja Enitanwa, represents a painful contradiction. The Ifako Ijaiye Customary Court had been specially designated to hear cases rooted in Islamic law—a foundation of faith and tradition that defined her marriage to her beloved husband. How, then, can this same court deny its duty to preside over the case she brings forward, a case so deeply tied to her faith and rightful place within her family?
At the heart of her appeal is a plea for recognition, not only for herself but for every Muslim woman whose rights are meant to be upheld by the legal protections guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution. Her counsel, Barrister Kayode Ademiluyi, stresses that this Constitution embraces Sharia law as a personal and protected path for Muslims, enshrining the rights of individuals like Alhaja Enitanwa to have their marital bonds honored by the law.
The Customary Court Law of Lagos State further cements these rights. By law, designated courts are empowered to adjudicate in matters of Islamic law—marriage, divorce, and family bonds. Yet, for reasons unknown, the Ifako Ijaiye Customary Court has chosen to ignore this mandate, casting aside the deeply personal matter Alhaja Enitanwa brought to its doors.
She seeks more than validation; she seeks justice. For Alhaja Enitanwa, this appeal is an urgent call for the court to correct a decision that, in its oversight, has left her in limbo, questioning the very foundations of her marriage and her place within a family she holds dear.
Her appeal will journey through the Customary Court of Appeal, a court of immense authority, with the power to oversee customary law matters. Here, the court will have the solemn duty to interpret her case in the spirit of fairness, upholding the principles of religious and personal freedoms granted under Nigerian law. Alhaja Enitanwa’s case is not just about her suffering but about restoring the dignity of every Muslim woman who looks to the law to honour her faith and protect her rights.
Let us remember that at the heart of this case lies a woman—a mother, a widow—whose only desire is to protect the bond she shared with her late husband and to honour the life they built together under Islamic law. Alhaja Enitanwa’s struggle resonates far beyond her plight; it is a struggle for justice, for the rights of Muslim women, and for the values enshrined in the law.