By Wale Onifade
In the wake of the clamor for appointments, the President has stated categorically that he is out to constitute a government of national competence, which he said would form the basis for his appointments.
He subtly passed a message that he would not sheepishly throw caution to the wind by ignoring a note of warning, unlike the great Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, who treated the premonition from the soothsayer with disdain to his peril.
With ethnic and religious sentiments being weaved into the lobby for appointments into his cabinet, Tinubu is not unmindful of the reality that he too could as well beware of ‘The Ides of March’.
As Tinubu’s administration is yet to announce who makes the ministerial lists and other important appointments, there have been speculations and rumors over the possibility of bringing in the former Army Chief, Lt General Tukur Yusuf Buratai into the new government and that already unsettling former military Generals under the Buhari administration.
Our sources revealed that some former service chiefs fall over themselves with a sinister mind of working for themselves or their preferred persons against any choice they feared President Tinubu may make, which is contrary to their plans of holding the government at the jugular.
This is happening as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new government is systematically handpicking the best people to assist him in leading Nigeria ahead in the direction of a vision of renewed hope.
However, with the recent sponsored attack by Sahara Reporters against the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd).
Their main target is to put President Tinubu against the former Army Chief for selfish political reasons.
We gathered that there are still upcoming attempts to assassinate the character of the former Ambassador to the Benin Republic in the media because his political relevance in the new administration is giving them nightmares.
We also gathered that one of their leads, Hon. Kabiru Mohammed has been to Lagos to finalize a plan to pitch President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu against Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the former head of the army. a project allegedly supported by certain ex-comrades who became involved in politics and are starting to learn how to play the system by causing trouble and blackmailing people after hanging up their boots and looking for importance in the new administration.
General Monguno and Ex- Air Chief Sadique Abubakar were mentioned as already fighting General Tukur Yusuf Buratai for whatever was left unfinished while in the Army or for the mere ego that they feared he possessed an intimidating record to stand taller in the next move by the president.
Recall that long ago, while Buratai was in charge of the Nigerian Army, attempts were made to undermine his successes in repositioning the security architecture.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, the Coordinator of HURIWA, claims that moles have been put in the Army whose actions are intended to undermine General Buratai’s efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in the northeastern region of Nigeria.
Onwubiko’s statement reads: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the transformation of the Nigerian Army rapidly manifested under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff; Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), who was proactive in the war against terrorism despite efforts by moles and saboteurs embedded within the Army who were derailing the objectives of the counter Terror War and the efforts for the respect for fundamental human rights.”
Onwubiko suggested that perhaps those who haven’t been persuaded by the remarkable transformational measures devised to reposition the Nigerian Army for successful counter-insurgency battles and maintain military-civilian relationship practices are either bad historians or have poor memory retention.
He claims that recently, as part of the celebrations for the 2020 Nigerian Army Day and its corporate social responsibility, the newly constructed Camp Delta Force Quick Reaction Base was commissioned to improve the readiness of the military to respond quickly to terrorist activities in the communities. This was done in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
He said that the tremendous accomplishments that helped the Nigerian Army rise to the position of leadership in the security community would not have been possible without the devotion and selfless service of the previous Army Chief. This did not sit well with other groups, who, as Onwubiko noted, had hired spies to blame for the victories that had a direct bearing on the fighting in the northeast and, by extension, the northwest of Nigeria.
According to reports, the tainted relationship between the former Army Chief Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the outgoing NSA General Monguno retired was a continuation of the feud that began between the late Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Abba Kyari, and the outgoing NSA General Monguno retired. The article further stated that given the present political situation, outgoing NSA General Monguno has reaffirmed his commitment to preventing any influence or appointments for former Army Chief Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai inside the Tinubu government.
Additionally, it was learned that the outgoing NSA went above and above to compile a long list of supposed events that took place during General Buratai’s heyday as COAS to discredit and denigrate him in the public eye.
Even though it was revealed that the former Air Chief Sadique Abubakar was behind recent attacks by Sahara Reporters on the personality of the former Army Chief, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, it is rumored that General Monguno may not be the only person seeking General Buratai’s downfall in the unfolding political relevance of the former Army Chief.
“From late yesterday to this morning, I received calls from some of my editor colleagues, including SR itself, about an approach made to them to publish a well-scripted damaging story on the former Army Chief, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, alleging that he secretly helped PDP during the last presidential election that Asiwaju won,” said the editor who expressed his thoughts on the misguided attempt to smear Buratai’s name. I think they’re playing a game here to pitch the current administration against the old Army Chief, who is already starting to matter politically under the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
It was gathered that Hon. Kabiru Mohammed was being used in media campaigns against the former Army Chief for at least two years now. He was said to be present in Lagos in the pursuit of the dastardly assignment.
We also gathered that General Monguno (rtd) is presently doing an executive summary of all the alleged infractions, which he plans to present to President Tinubu later this week. Hon. Kabiru will then ensure regular publication of snippets in the social and mainstream media – all to damage the reputation of the General and stopping his good relationship with the new administration.
It is also pertinent to note that Lt Gen. T.Y Buratai’s transition from an Army General to a diplomat and now a force to reckon with politically symbolizes the strength and expertise he brings to the table.
His proven leadership, strategic acumen, and dedication to the nation’s progress have earned him the trust and respect of both his colleagues and the wider Nigerian populace. As he embarks on this new chapter, Nigeria anticipates the positive impact he will undoubtedly make in the realm of politics, leveraging his wealth of experience and resolute commitment to the betterment of the nation.
