The immediate-past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, on Thursday declared that his 66 months as head of the Nigerian Army recorded many remarkable successes and sterling feats.
This is as his successor, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru said he would hit the ground running with a view to addressing the lingering security challenges bedeviling the country.
Lt. General Buratai, who spoke while handing over to Major General Attahiru at the Army Headquarters Conference Room, said that between July 2015 and January 2021 when held sway as the COAS, said that Army officers and men under his watch became professionally responsive, dedicated and committed to their statutory responsibility of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the nation.
While thanking troops serving at home and abroad for their sacrifice, Buratai noted that the Nigerian Army has been better positioned with intelligence gathering techniques and equipment.
According to him; “The security situation across the country is largely stabilised under my watch and my administration will be remembered for improved professionalism, improved responsiveness to personnel welfare and responsiveness to Nigeria’s democratic system.”
Buratai also said that infrastructural development, particularly the construction and rehabilitation of several army barracks, schools, and hospitals, among other projects, remains one of the lasting legacy his leadership is bequeathing.
The former further COAS said; “In terms of improving security, degrading the Boko Haram terrorists and army troops reclaiming some towns hitherto under the control of the insurgents in the North East, the problem of insecurity was somewhat tackled during my tenure in office”.
Buratai expressed gratitude to the officers and men of the Army for their tremendous support they accorded him and appealed to Major General Attahiru to consolidate on the successes he would meet on ground.
Buratai also said that he was nearly retired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo 21 years ago when he was wearing the rank of Major, but did not disclose the reason why he was almost retired by the former president.
He described his attainment of the rank of Lt. General and Chief of Army Staff as historic, adding that the Army will never remain the same due to his transformational leadership and landmark achievements.
In his own remarks, the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru solicited the support of officers and soldiers in his determination to reposition the Nigerian Army.
Attahiru thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari, for finding him worthy to be appointed as COAS, adding that he counted himself lucky to have been chosen for the army top job.
