It has been amusing watching an obviously embarrassed Nigerian Army struggle to defend the indefensible since Saharareporters broke the news of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai owning not one , but two Dubai properties, worth about $1.5million. The online news network indicated that one of the properties was paid for in one transaction and that the money for the acquisition may have flowed from a vehicle contract scam while Buratai was the director of procurement at the Army HQ.
First, it was the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman who was sent to douse the outrage. Of course, it is impossible to defend the indefensible no matter how you try. Usman, typical of Nigeria, called it a smear campaign as he beat mainly around the bush, dwelling more on the irrelevant.
What Nigerians are interested to know is how a SOLDIER (it seems we forget that Buratai is a soldier, never mind the tag of chief of this, director of that), could be the owner of two Dubai properties, without being corrupt. Especially, as in Buratai’s case, a man who has two wives and the resultant many children to feed. Nigerians had expected Usman to show how much his boss has earned since he was commissioned as an army officer, which could have made such property acquisition possible. Or at least, tell us, as usual, that he bought the houses with a bank loan. Or say that it is the two wives who bought the properties with the proceeds of their business.
Instead all Usman could invent was to say that the money for the purchase came from Buratai’s “personal savings”. Personal savings from what? He did not say, but certainly not from his earnings as a soldier.
Within hours of this unsatisfactory defence of Buratai, Lucky Irabor, a major general and Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole called a press conference in Maiduguri in a desperate move by the Army to save the ass of the Chief of Army Staff. Irabor described the reports as “baseless, unfounded and wicked insinuation”. He attempted to drum up sentiments by telling Nigerians the good work Buratai has done in the fight against Boko Haram (as if that was in question or the issue at hand).
“The COAS, since assumption of office, has taken the affairs of Operation Lafiya Dole to a level that showed unparalleled commitment to the operational effectiveness and good welfare of troops.
“He has equally provided uniforms and boots for all the troops in Operation Lafiya Dole,”. Irabor added.
He said Buratai had also ensured regular payment of allowances and other personnel entitlements since assumption of office.
“The payment of allowances and other requirements have been regular and in most cases, up-front. The COAS’ regular visits to the front line are well known to all.
“The aggregate impact of the efforts is the huge operational successes being recorded in the Theatre.
“The morale of troops has equally risen to a level that was never witnessed in the past,” Irabor said.
He also disputed the claim by Saharareporters that the motorcycles supplied to the Motorcycle Battalion in the Operation Lafiya Dole were used and refurbished.
“The online report further imputed that the motorcycles inducted into Operation Lafiya Dole and employed by the Motorcycle Battalion, were used and refurbished.
“What a sad tale of lies, when a report of that nature was received earlier, the COAS instituted a high-powered investigation by Military Police.
“The findings of the investigation team revealed that the motorcycles were brand new and were delivered in crates as knocked-down-parts.
“The technicians who fixed some of them, failed to tighten some knots firmly which was later rectified. Ever since, the motorcycles have proven useful in various operations,” Irabor said.
“I consider this publication as part of the concerted, organized terrorist strategy to distract our winning spirit in the war against BHT.”
These, at best, are smart attempts by Irabor to sentimentalise and even trivialise the serious issue at hand. He said much, but said nothing at the end, regarding the question surrounding Buratai’s character and integrity as a soldier who owns two overseas properties, he may hardly need.
Okay, let us concede it to Irabor that Saharareporters were wrong in exactly pinpointing where the purchase money for the properties came from, nonetheless it does not change the fact that a soldier own those properties. Neither did Irabor convincingly tell Nigerians how he got the money to pay for such oversea properties in cash, which his contemporaries in the US, Britain and other climes, where soldiers earn far better, could only dream of.
One of the enduring troubles with our country is that people do not take responsibility for their actions and omissions. We all watched just two days ago as British Prime Minister, David Cameron tendered his resignation, after the Remain Vote he supported failed. I had expected Buratai to do same, instead of unleashing Army spokesmen on the Nigerian people to insult our intelligence and add more salt to injury.
They say that the Dubai properties were part of the assets declared by Buratai, both as commander of MNJTF and recently in 2015 when he was named army chief of staff. As if such declaration gives a seal of legitimisation to “impropriety”. This argument does not achieve anything, except discrediting President Buhari for clinging to such a man with questionable wealth as his army chief. And I guess, there would have been public outcry if the assets declarations were made public.
Corrupt or not the test is simple: does a chief of army staff with two houses in Dubai fit into an administration that has made the fight against corruption its number one priority? The answer is a deafening NO! Even if Buratai scales through the legal scrutiny, he is morally cobwebbed. Therefore, he has become a burden for a government, which, as I write, has many people either in detention or facing trial for corruption and other malpractices.
Is Buratai a brilliant soldier? From what I know and have heard about him, I have no doubt in my mind that he is. He has guided the Nigerian Army to gain an obvious upper hand in the fight against Boko Haram. Nevertheless, there are still questions about his not having the right temperament for a democratic setting, if the alleged extra-judicial killings by his army are benchmarks.
In any case, what counts for an occupant of the type of office he occupies, is that such a person must be above board. This, with the buying of two Dubai properties, does not seem to be the case with Buratai. Dust has been needlessly raised and his remaining in office will morally weigh down the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as it fights corruption – “before corruption kills Nigeria”.
As Buhari prosecutes this fight, the last thing he can afford is to be seen as a man who condones corruption. So, Buratai has become a heavy baggage for the president. That is why he must sack him now.
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