President Bola Tinubu has emphasised the importance of documenting the experiences of national institutions and their leaders to preserve history and provide useful lessons for future generations.

Mr Tinubu, represented by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), stated this on Wednesday at the public presentation of a book in Abuja.

The book, titled Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, was authored by Dr Mohammed Abubakar.

Mr Akume was also represented at the occasion by Bekearedebo Warrens, permanent secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The president said the publication was coming at an important time when Nigeria continued to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent criminality, oil theft and other security threats.

Mr Tinubu described the book as not only a record of the tenure of retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, but also a contribution to discussions on military leadership, institutional reform and national security.

He said the period covered by the publication was one of considerable difficulty for the country, as the nation faced terrorism, insurgency and other forms of asymmetric threats.

According to him, the security challenges placed enormous demands on the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army, requiring effective leadership and strategic responses.

The president said the period tested the leadership, discipline, courage, innovation and adaptability of the military institutions in responding to changing security realities.

He added that Mr Buratai, alongside the officers and men who served under him, was required to demonstrate these qualities while confronting the security challenges of the period.

Mr Tinubu said his administration was strengthening intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, surveillance, logistics and operational capabilities to improve the country’s security architecture.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government was developing a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan.

According to him, government was investing in modern equipment, technology and personnel development to enable security agencies to effectively confront contemporary threats.

The president acknowledged the contributions of soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, police officers and other security personnel serving the country under difficult conditions.

He also expressed appreciation to families who had lost loved ones in the service of the nation, acknowledging the sacrifices made by security personnel and their relatives.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd.), described Mr Buratai as a leader who contributed to institutional development in the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army.

Mr Musa said he was a direct beneficiary of reforms associated with Mr Buratai’s tenure as Chief of Army Staff.

He recalled that Mr Buratai moved quickly to address some of the challenges confronting the Nigerian Army after assuming office.

The minister identified Mr Buratai’s ability to identify and develop future leaders as one of his notable qualities.

He said several officers who served under Mr Buratai subsequently rose through the ranks and became senior military commanders.

Mr Musa urged military personnel, students and policymakers to read the publication and draw lessons from its account of leadership, sacrifice and commitment to national service.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, said Nigeria needed to examine the deeper causes of insecurity while continuing to respond to immediate security threats.

Mr Sanusi said the country’s security crisis did not begin with banditry, Boko Haram or terrorism, but was preceded by the politicisation of ethnicity and religion.

He said divisive rhetoric that categorised Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines had contributed to creating an environment conducive to violent movements.

The emir, therefore, urged Nigerians to return to unity and called for an end to the politicisation of ethnicity and religion.

He also called for institutions, including the military, police, judiciary and media, to remain professional and protected from excessive political influence.

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, said security should be regarded as a collective Nigerian responsibility rather than an issue associated with a particular region or religion.

“It is not a Northern problem. It is not a Muslim problem. It is not a Christian problem. It is a Nigerian problem,” Mr Ndume said.

He commended Buratai for his service and contribution to the transformation of the Nigerian Army during a period of severe security challenges.

Mr Ndume also called for greater commitment to peace and national unity from political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, communities and security agencies.

The author of the book, Mr Abubakar, said he spent about 10 years researching and documenting the publication, beginning in 2016 while observing the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

He described the book as a leadership document rather than a praise publication, saying it tracked reforms undertaken during the Buratai era.

According to him, the reforms documented in the book included welfare initiatives, the Nigerian Army University Biu, the Resource Centre and manufacturing complexes.

Mr Abubakar said the publication also documented Mr Buratai’s leadership in the North-East and his efforts to restore troop morale while confronting insurgency.

He added that the book examined the combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, including human rights desks, medical outreaches and civil-military engagement.

Mr Abubakar said documenting such experiences was important because failure to preserve institutional memory could force future generations to repeat past mistakes.

The chairman of the occasion, Umar AbdulMutallab, founder of Jaiz Bank Plc, commended the organisers and expressed hope that similar efforts to document Nigeria’s institutional experiences would continue.

The honouree, Mr Buratai, commended the author for the privilege and acknowledged the support of his family, friends and colleagues in achieving the publication.

The event attracted senior government officials, military officers, traditional rulers, policymakers and other stakeholders, who reflected on the Buratai era and broader issues of military leadership, institutional development and national security.

(NAN)