Tukur Yusufu Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff, believes President Muhammadu Buhari has won the war against insurgents in Nigeria.
Buratai stated this in a recent interview, an excerpt of which Legit.ng obtained on Wednesday, February 1.
According to the former Army chief, at least 100,000 insurgents have surrendered to the Nigerian Armed Forces since 2015, and internally displaced people who had sought refuge in various camps have now returned home.
He said:
“It is expedient to mention here that internally displaced persons taking refuge in various camps in the city of Maiduguri have now been moved back to their home towns: Konduga, Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, Kukawa and Dikwa, just to name a few.”
The ex-Army chief now a politician disclosed that over 20,000 hostages have been rescued due to the successful operations of the Nigerian Military in the Northeast.
When asked how the military was able to achieve such a milestone, he simply said:
“The people of the North-East realized that the president was passionate about restoring peace and stability to Borno State and the entire North-East region of the country.”
He, however, slammed critics who think the Nigerian Military is not doing enough to restore peace in the country.
Buratai said such persons do not see anything good in the country.
He said:
“The Nigerian military has subdued the insurgents, terrorists and jihadists; the northeast region is now calm and very stable.
“All the local government area councils that were hitherto under the control of Boko Haram have been reclaimed and people displaced from these areas have since gone back to their localities.”
Buratai speaks on 2023 polls, reels out security advisory
When asked to give his take on the forthcoming general elections, Buratai stated that he is certain that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deliver Nigeria’s best election in over two decades.
Buratai who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) urged electorates to troop out in their numbers and exercise their civic responsibilities.
He further stated that electorates can vote for whomever they deem fit but urged electorates that a vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential bannerman of the APC would be the right decision.
Buratai said:
“We are working round the clock to ensure that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wins the election.
“I encourage you to vote for your choice, but if you want to hear my opinion, I would say vote for the APC.”
He, however, urged electorates to shun violence and stand firm to protect their votes at every polling unit.
The APC chieftain advised that Nigerians must not be allowed to be used as a tool of destruction by politicians, rather they should allow the democratic process to work as it should.
Similarly, he urged the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical during the course of the 2023 general elections.
He said:
“They must stick to their constitutional role and remain apolitical. I understand that the military may be called in to assist the civil police at some point, but only when things are about to get out of hand.”