Statesmanship in Turbulent Times: Lessons from MS Abubakar’s Book on Buratai
Statesmanship in Turbulent Times: Lessons from MS Abubakar’s Book on Buratai
Jerry Adesewo
Abuja, Nigeria — The Abuja Continental Hotel came alive on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, as intellectuals, diplomats, and leaders gathered for the presentation of ‘Life Principles for Greatness: From the Life of General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd) — Lessons for Today’s Youth’. The event, which was graced by dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria, featured a thought-provoking keynote by Washington D.C.-based lawyer and democracy advocate, Dr. Lloyd F. Ukwu, who unpacked the urgent theme: *Statesmanship in Turbulent Times: Strategies for National Stability and Growth*.
The book, published by Sprezzatura Publishing, distills the life lessons of General Buratai, Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, into guiding principles for young Nigerians navigating a society in flux.
Leadership in Nation-Building
Dr. Ukwu, who is the Group Managing Partner of International Law Group and President of NADECO USA, emphasized that the essence of his paper could be captured in a single phrase: ‘leadership in nation-building’. He warned that while turbulence is a global phenomenon, what is in short supply in Nigeria is “statesmanship—the type of responsive leadership that addresses the needs, aspirations, and yearnings of the people.”
He defined statesmanship as the ability to make difficult decisions that may be unpopular but are ultimately in the best interest of the nation. “Politics may be called a game of interests in Nigeria, but the real question is—whose interests? The politician’s or the people’s?” he asked, drawing applause from the audience.
Strategies for Stability
The keynote identified inclusive governance, strong institutions, economic opportunity, and social equity as the four pillars for national stability. Dr. Ukwu stressed the importance of unifying people of diverse backgrounds under what he called a “rainbow coalition.”
“A good leader must ensure all segments of society have a seat at the table. We cannot talk about progress while large segments of our people feel excluded,” he noted.
Drawing comparisons with the United States, where government agencies hold daily press briefings to keep the public informed, Ukwu urged Nigerian leaders to adopt transparent communication as a tool of stability and trust-building.
The Collapse of Social Institutions
Perhaps the most sobering moment of the paper came when Dr. Ukwu highlighted the decay of Nigeria’s societal institutions—family, religion, schools, and society at large. He argued that these institutions, once pillars of nation-building, have failed in their responsibilities.
“The family, the church and mosque, the school system, and society itself have all failed. And because of this, our governance institutions—the executive, the legislature, the judiciary, the police, the military—are populated by individuals who emerged from these failures,” he said.
He gave pointed examples: families that no longer nurture core values, churches and mosques that prioritize prosperity sermons over morality, schools that fail to shape disciplined citizens, and a wider society that tolerates deviance until it becomes the norm.
“If the smallest unit, the family, fails, the entire society is at risk,” he warned.
Democracy and Its Fragile Foundations
While democracy is often hailed as the best system of governance, Dr. Ukwu reminded the audience of its fragility. He argued that democracy is the easiest system to dismantle—often without violence but through the steady erosion of institutions.
“Strong and sustainable institutions are the only way democracy can endure. Once you systematically weaken them, the collapse is like a house of cards,” he cautioned.
The Path Forward
The day’s event, however, was not just about diagnosing Nigeria’s ailments. It was also about offering remedies. The book, ‘Life Principles for Greatness’, authored by Sani Mohammed Abubakar, uses the story of General Buratai to highlight values such as discipline, patriotism, sacrifice, and service as timeless tools for personal and national growth.
Dr. Ukwu ended his keynote with a powerful metaphor. He likened Nigeria to a luxurious car—perhaps a Mercedes-Benz or Bentley—stuck on a muddy, rural road.
“No matter how beautiful the car, it will remain stuck unless everyone gets out, pushes together, and frees it. Nigeria is that car. The question is—are we willing to get out of our comfort zones and push?”
The metaphor captured the mood of the evening: one of sober reflection but also of renewed hope that with discipline, patriotism, and responsive leadership, Nigeria can overcome its turbulence.
Statesmanship in Turbulent Times: Lessons from MS Abubakar’s Book on Buratai