Group Counters Ali Keffi’s Claims, Says Buratai’s Achievements “Clear and Undeniable”
Group Counters Ali Keffi’s Claims, Says Buratai’s Achievements “Clear and Undeniable”
By Matthew Eloyi
A group under the banner Concerned Citizens of the North-East has faulted the recent interview granted by retired Major General Ali Keffi on Arise Television, describing his remarks about former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd.), as “inaccurate, misleading, and unbalanced.”
In a statement issued and signed by Amb. Auwal Ahmad Umar, the group said Keffi’s comments failed to reflect the realities of Buratai’s stewardship of the Nigerian Army. It said the interview amounted to a selective narrative that ignored the “remarkable achievements” recorded during the period.
According to the group, Buratai is widely acknowledged for providing strategic leadership that enhanced Nigeria’s security architecture. It noted that under his command, Boko Haram terrorists were significantly degraded and dislodged from several territories, while armed banditry in the North-West came under pressure due to intensified military operations.
The statement added that counter-insurgency and internal security efforts in the South-East also suppressed violent separatist activities, restoring a measure of stability to the region.
On reforms within the Army, the group credited Buratai with improving welfare, training, discipline, accommodation, and promotions for personnel. It said the modernisation of military equipment and infrastructure during his tenure enhanced operational capability, while civil–military relations and international defence cooperation reached “unprecedented levels.”
“These facts are well known to Nigerians and independent observers,” the group said, adding that Buratai’s contributions earned him the traditional title of Garkuwa Keffi (The Shield of Keffi) from the Emir of Keffi—a recognition it described as a testament to his service and courage.
The group criticised Keffi for what it called a “deliberate refusal to acknowledge the truth,” noting that he served in senior positions while Buratai led the Army and directly witnessed the reforms and operational gains recorded at the time.
“His refusal to speak on these well-known accomplishments raises serious questions about the intent and sincerity of his remarks,” the statement read.
It suggested that Keffi’s position may be influenced by personal dissatisfaction linked to his retirement from service, which the group said followed internal administrative and disciplinary procedures in line with military regulations.
The group maintained that Buratai remains one of Nigeria’s most accomplished military leaders whose contributions to national security cannot be erased by “a single interview characterised by omissions and personal sentiment.”
It called on Nigerians to disregard attempts to “misrepresent history” and continue supporting efforts aimed at promoting peace, unity, and the integrity of the Armed Forces.
