At Book Launch, Yar’adua Hails Buratai’s Courage and Compassion
At Book Launch, Yar’adua Hails Buratai’s Courage and Compassion
Jerry Adesewo
Abuja, Nigeria — The Abuja Continental Hotel came alive last Wednesday, August 13, as Senator Abduaziz Yar’adua, representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, a retired soldier and Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, unveiled ‘Life Principles for Greatness: From the Life of General Tukur Yusuf Buratai’. The event, attended by politicians, military veterans, scholars, traditional rulers, and diplomats, became a celebration of leadership, sacrifice, and enduring values for Nigeria’s future.
A Soldier’s Testimony
In an emotional testimony as Special Guest of Honour and chief book presenter, Senator Yar’adua spoke not only as a lawmaker but as a former soldier who once walked the same barracks corridors as Buratai.
He recalled his early years as a short-service combatant officer, almost drafted into the infantry but later opting for the Signal Corps. “I came across General Buratai as an MS officer, and luckily, some of my mentors in the MS are here. I used to bring popcorn to the office, and that popcorn became very famous because it produced two service chiefs — the late Lt. Gen. Attahiru of blessed memory, and our mentor, Buratai,” he said to laughter and applause.
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Reflecting on Buratai’s military leadership, Yar’adua described the moment he saw the general raise the Nigerian flag after dislodging Boko Haram forces. “That day, I felt like flying to go and meet him and beg, even as a reservist, to be reinstated, just to serve under him. He led from the front, with courage and conviction. It was marvelous to see.”
A Leader of Compassion
The Senator spoke movingly of Buratai’s compassion, recounting an incident that revealed the general’s humanity. “I never knew that Buratai could shed tears until we buried a gallant officer at Konduga. He had promoted him in the field for his heroism, and when he lost him, I saw the tears flow. That moment, I knew this was a man of compassion, a leader who truly loved his men,” he recalled.
Yar’adua also highlighted Buratai’s care for both active and retired officers. “He once facilitated my medical evacuation to South Africa. I was flown business class, all taken care of, without even meeting him. On another occasion, when I invited him to an event in Katsina, he sent the GOC himself to represent him. That is the measure of his commitment to the welfare of his men, serving or retired.”
The Book as a Compass
Published by Sprezzatura Publishing, ‘Life Principles for Greatness’ distills the general’s philosophy into lessons on courage, discipline, and integrity. For Yar’adua, the book is more than a biography — it is a roadmap for Nigeria’s youth.
“This book is not just about General Buratai’s military career,” the Senator said. “It is about the timeless principles that our young people must embrace if Nigeria is to move forward. Discipline, resilience, and integrity are not old-fashioned ideas; they are the foundation of nation-building.”
A Call to Youth and Nation
Echoing Buratai’s consistent message to Nigerian youth to shun crime, cultism, and violence, Yar’adua urged the younger generation to take the book’s lessons seriously. “The future of our country rests in their hands. If they read and apply these principles, we will raise leaders who are not only competent but patriotic.”
The atmosphere at the event reflected a broad consensus: Buratai’s story is not just his own, but a template for leadership renewal in Nigeria.
Symbolism and Legacy
As a member of the Yar’adua family — with its deep history of leadership and service through the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua and President Umaru Musa Yar’adua — Senator Abduaziz’s role as the book presenter added symbolic weight.
“In celebrating General Buratai, we are not only celebrating an individual but reaffirming the enduring principles of leadership that Nigeria desperately needs,” he declared to loud applause.
More Than a Book Launch
The unveiling of ‘Life Principles for Greatness’ became both a literary and national moment: a reminder of Nigeria’s struggles, its need for transformative leadership, and the role of values in shaping society’s future.
As the event drew to a close, the central message rang clear through Yar’adua’s testimony: leadership is not about titles, but about courage, compassion, and service. And in Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s story, Nigeria’s youth have a living example of greatness to emulate, and that exactly is what Dr. MS Abubakar seeks to achieve with the book.
At Book Launch, Yar’adua Hails Buratai’s Courage and Compassion