…says Nigeria will be better developed if military remains professional and civilians govern well
Ex-Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, retd, has said he keyed into Igbinedion University Okada, IUO quest for research center for contemporary security affairs because it will go a long way in developing Nigeria and take it to greater heights.
Buratai made this disclosure at the one-day international conference with the theme: ‘Organised Crime Network as Emergent Threats to National Security’ organised by Igbinedion University Okada, IUO , Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs partnering agencies.
Buratai in a chat after the first session of the confab on what motivated him as COAS to let into a research centre in security affairs with Nigeria’s premier private university said:
“First of all, I have that passion for research, let me say my background as an historian and also a military instructor, I have been in the teaching of the army in particular and I have a very good teaching background, I have that interest in research.
“And when Igbenedion University approached me then as Chief of Army Staff, I felt it is a good thing for me to expand and explain my passion for research activities.
“As you can see, this centre, the Nigerian Army Resource Centre is one of my initiatives to establish it for research and studies into contemporary issues, military strategies, developmental issues and capacity building.
“So I didn’t waste time when I was approached by the Igbenedion University, having decided on their own, approved by the senate, it was then they approached me.
“They saw my contributions in the area of security as then Chief of Army Staff and they felt they need to immortalize me to have this centre in order to protect and project, promote my ideals in the areas of security and here we are today, they are doing very well.
“And I really appreciate the university and of course the management of Igbenedion University, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbenedion and of course the management and staff, the vice chancellor and the senate, they have done well in taking the right decision and the centre are doing very well.
“In our clime, the military has been at the receiving end, democracy now requires the military to perform our constitutional role rather than coming directly into governance.
“They can have many ways to influence government to make sure that security played their role appropriately and also allow the democrats, the civilians to perform their role properly.
“I am lucky to have served for five years, for almost six years and I know the stress that has gone into democracy or the governance in my country.
“The best way is for the military to remain within their constitutional role, also encourage the civilian administration to do their best, to solve the democratic challenges or the governance challenges or the developmental challenges of our country.
“It is by doing so, everybody playing its role, the democrats doing their own properly, the politicians, the military, the populace are doing their role properly, it is then you have the focus of our nation.
“The military should be allowed to do their professional job and the civilian should govern well and it is through that you have a developed country, as you can see globally.
“Unfortunately, there are times when you have external influence, whatever it is, what the politicians and the military should try to avoid is to be influenced externally, it will disrupt democratic process of the country.
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