Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), has accused the political class of creating the insecurity in Nigeria.
Buratai made this allegation while sharing his experience in a lecture he delivered titled: ‘Public Service and the Imperatives for National Security in Nigeria’ in the second stanza 2023 National Public Service Lecture and the 65th anniversary of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association.
The former army chief criticized those who called for his sack over the insecurity in the country while he was in office.
Buratai said such calls stemmed from personal biases rather than an objective evaluation of his performance.
“These individuals might have held negative opinions of General Buratai based on subjective factors, such as personal preferences or biases unrelated to his actual capabilities,” Buratai said.
“It is crucial to approach discussions regarding national security matters with a fair and impartial mindset, focusing on relevant aspects rather than personal biases and idiosyncrasies.
“The National Assembly had twice or more passed resolutions calling for the sack of the service chiefs. The President, Muhammadu Buhari had told the Ninth National Assembly to mind their business. If properly interpreted, the call by the Ninth National Assembly was to derail the democracy by the military.
“This should be a lesson for political actors. It was a direct confrontation blaming the service chiefs as if they were the ones who started the insecurity. The insecurity being faced in the country since 2009 was the creation of the political class. With a strong political will, it can be surmounted.”
He advised politicians, public servants as well and civil servants to live above board by eschewing corruption which he said had plagued the country’s political sphere for decades, eroding public trust and hindering development.
According to him, misappropriation of public funds, bribery, and embezzlement have become too common, diverting resources away from essential services and leaving citizens disillusioned.
He also advised politicians to be accountable and transparent.
“Politicians often make lofty promises during election campaigns but fail to deliver once in power. The lack of accountability erodes public confidence and perpetuates the perception that politicians are more interested in the people,” Buratai added.