By
Lt Gen Ambassador Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd.)
NAM, OMM (BRAZIL), CFR
Former Chief of Army Staff, Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
Today, as we mark the one-year remembrance of the passing of our revered leader, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, I find myself not just mourning a former President, but honoring a Commander-in-Chief whose hand I held in the theater of war and whose vision I executed in the defense of our nation.
His Excellency was more than a statesman; he was a symbol of discipline. In July 2015, when he placed the mantle of Chief of Army Staff upon my shoulders, he gave me a clear, unambiguous order: degrade Boko Haram and restore territorial integrity to the Northeast. He never minced words. He provided the strategic direction and the unwavering political will that empowered the Armed Forces to reclaim our land.
Many have debated his policies, but those of us who served under his command experienced the man firsthand. He was a leader of legendary stoicism, whose belief in the military never wavered. He allowed us the space to operate, trusting our expertise, yet he held us to the highest standard of accountability. It was a "very difficult period" as I have often noted, but it was the clarity of his vision that saw us through the darkest hours of the insurgency. The victories we recorded were a direct reflection of his firm, patriotic determination.
I recall with profound gratitude his trust in me—a trust he linked to the historical loyalty of my father to his own values. That trust was a burden I carried with honour, and I am proud that we did not fail him.
In death, as in life, President Buhari remains the epitome of integrity and modesty. He served this nation with an unblemished personality, rejected ostentation, and retired to his hometown of Daura with the same quiet dignity he brought to the Presidency. His leadership redefined our democratic landscape and laid foundational stones for a secure future.
To his beloved family, I extend my deepest condolences. To the nation he served, I say: we have lost a pillar of honesty.
One year is gone, but the memory of his courage and his dedication to the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains unassailable.
'From Allah we came and to Him we shall return' (Qur'an 2:156).
May the Almighty continue to accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings, and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
Lt. Gen. Ambassador Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd.)
NAM, OMM (BRAZIL), CFR
13 July 2026
Abuja
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