Encomium as General Buratai is Turbaned Betara of Biu
By Lawrence Bilal Audu
BIU: The ancient city of Biu in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria on Friday, came to a standstill as guests from all over the country and in the Diaspora converged to witness the grand Turbaning of an illustrious son, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, as the Betara of Biu.
The crème de la crème who turned out for the event attest to the acceptability of a man whose footprints have been solidified on the sands of time.
The Emir of Biu, His Royal Majesty Dr Umar Mustapha II who performed the ceremony averred that, General Buratai’s selection is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to not just the Biu Emirate, but the country at large.
In their separate remarks, friends and associates of General Buratai were unanimous in their eulogies that Ambassador Buratai is a true legend who remains a positive spirit for society.
According to Dr Mohammed Sani Abubakar: “General Buratai is a man with a heart of gold, a man who epitomizes empathy and sympathy. A man who has people in his heart, he is a man of the people, that’s just the catchphrase to describe Buratai.
“80% of those you see here, come from diverse places all to felicitate and celebrate with him. And for an individual who is out of office and is not occupying any government office.
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But because of his good heart, and the way he relates with people. Everybody is happy to identify with him.”
For Major General Abubakar Tarfa Rtd, it is a feeling of nostalgia as he recalls his days with General Buratai during service.
“General Buratai is someone I met even before our service as officers, but from the first day I reported to the Academy, he has always been a mentor to me”
Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun Rtd, who was on the frontlines with General Buratai to liberate the Northeast from the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents, in his testament said: He is a very unique being, a son of Nigeria, who has been recognized and is still being recognized across the country and beyond.
“For me, the name Buratai means so many things. It means a Commander, a compassionate leader, and an astute administrator.”
For the former Army spokesman, Brigadier General SK Usman Rtd, “Buratai is a man of many sorts, but all the good things you can think of a leader, of a father, and a patriot, that is Tukur Buratai for you.”
The celebrated retired Army General, Buratai, has been recognised across the country for his achievements as a soldier and a diplomat. Ambassador TY Buratai, as he is fondly called, is an accomplished Nigerian. His track records as the Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador have earned him numerous awards and recognition in Nigeria and beyond.
Apart from being a retired military general and an ambassador, the former Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR, the Garkuwan Keffi, the Jagunmolu of Saki land and the Bakore of Akure Kingdom is a celebrated Nigerian who distinguished himself in the service of his fatherland. His ethical and professional display throughout his reign as the Chief of Army Staff earned him an Ambassadorial position where he fostered a cordial relationship between the Republic of Benin and Nigeria.
Buratai has a sterling reputation as a military officer, and his dedication and role in the fight against terrorism and insurgency are well-documented in the history of Nigeria. Under his watch, Nigeria conducted a successful 2019 general election with voters in the northeastern part of the country fully participating in the exercise. He decimated, degraded, and technically defeated Boko Haram and Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Nigeria and made the northeast a safe zone for the residents.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, former Service Chiefs, heads of security agencies traditional rulers, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The event featured cultural displays from various ethnic groups from other parts of the country.