Buratai’s Eye for Excellence: How The Former COAS Built A Generation of Military Leaders
Femi Oyewale
In the often demanding and unpredictable world of military command, one of the most valuable qualities a leader can possess is the ability to identify, nurture, and deploy talent. For former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), this was not just a skill but a hallmark of his leadership—one that continues to shape the Nigerian military landscape years after his service.
During his tenure as COAS, Buratai was widely praised for his strategic foresight, operational discipline, and reforms, but perhaps his most enduring legacy is the rise of officers he trusted with critical assignments. A look back at the July 2019 appointments he made reveals a pattern: he placed capable officers in roles that stretched their capacity, refined their leadership, and prepared them for future national assignments.
One of the key beneficiaries of Buratai’s mentorship culture is Maj.-Gen. C.G. Musa, who at the time moved from the Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to serve as Commander, Sector 3 of Operation Lafiya Dole in Monguno. He would later rise to become the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and is today Nigeria’s Defence Minister–nominee. His elevation underscores Buratai’s remarkable ability to spot potential even in unconventional postings and transform officers into frontline commanders and strategic decision-makers.
Similarly, Brig.-Gen. O.O. Oluyede, who was redeployed from the Amphibious Training School in Calabar to command the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, also rose to prominence under Buratai’s tenure. His subsequent career trajectory—culminating in senior national security responsibilities—demonstrates how Buratai’s appointments were never random; they were deliberate steps in grooming competent officers for higher calling.
Another example is Brig.-Gen. E.A.P. Undiandeye, reassigned from the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation to become Acting Director, Foreign Liaison, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). Today, Undiandeye stands as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), a role that blends operational expertise with diplomatic finesse—qualities Buratai clearly saw early on.
These success stories, now visible across Nigeria’s defence architecture, illustrate a deeper truth: Buratai’s leadership was defined not only by battlefield accomplishments but by human capacity development. He understood that the strength of an army lies in the quality of its officers. And so he invested in them—rotating them through critical commands, exposing them to new challenges, and entrusting them with responsibilities that shaped their future careers.
Military analysts often say that true leadership is measured not by what a leader achieves alone, but by the legacy of leaders they leave behind. If this is the yardstick, then Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has already secured his place in Nigeria’s military history. The officers now occupying some of the highest defence positions in the country stand as living testimonies to his grooming, mentorship, and strategic vision.
As Nigeria continues to navigate complex security challenges, the nation benefits not only from the reforms Buratai implemented but also from the generation of leaders he prepared—leaders who are now shaping the country’s defence strategies at the highest level.
