The outgoing Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says he left the Nigerian Army better than he met it.
Buratai said this in his valedictory speech on Friday during the Pulling Out Parade by the Nigerian Army in Abuja.
He said under his leadership, the army had achieved a tremendous feat in the fight against insurgency and other security threats in the country.
In Buratai’s words; “Today is a day of appreciation and not a stocktaking, but let me put on record that I left the Nigerian Army better than I met it.
“The Nigerian Army under my leadership was able to achieve a great feat in the fight against insurgency in the country. We have been experiencing pockets of threats here and there, but I can confidently say that no part of Nigeria is ceded to any terrorist group or criminals.
“The counter-insurgency operation is warfare new to Nigerian Army but over time, we have continued to devise means of tackling the ever-evolving dynamic nature of the threats in the country. “The Nigerian Army has remained resolute in the discharge of its roles as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I urge you all to continue to rise to the occasion”.
The former COAS said that while it was always necessary to say goodbye at a point in life, it was not easy to find the right word to say goodbye to the courageous and dedicated team that worked with him.
Buratai also commended the loyalty and dedication of the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, which he said assisted him to achieve so much while in office.