Opinions
General Buratai And The Imaginative Narratives Of Gololo

General Buratai And The Imaginative Narratives Of Gololo
By: James Bwala
I will tell you numerous tales about General Tukur Yusuf Buratai if you can show me a past Army Chief whose soldiers respected him at all times. Who is Garus Gololo to opine on the former Army Chief to President Bola Tinubu? His comments seem to be attacking Mr. President’s character, to put it bluntly. Or does he believe that President Bola Tinubu is a corrupt, open-minded politician who trades words for small change? Does he believe that the President is ignorant of the history of the nation he currently leads or of all previous military chiefs? I have many questions to ask Garus Gololo, the political opportunist who hides in a hotel in Abuja to peddle his trades for the paymasters, who appear frightened even in their shells whenever they want to break their way into government.
Mr. President, you have come to make a difference in governance. It took him many years to design his strategy and come up with the action plan that we now see manifesting since he took the oath of office on May 29, 2023. This is exactly 30 days, and no Nigerian has come out to dispute the legendary approach the government is putting in place. People like Garus Gololo and his script owners have touted the government in the past with their show businesses, but I think they have reached their peak. I do not know why they are jittery about the former Army Chief and his closeness to the new administration. The man has been very calm and never attacked them, yet they fire from left, right, and center with their jittery hands. That with all their efforts, they could not make an impact by attacking him should be enough for any sensible person to know that, as the saying goes, ‘One with God is with the majority.’
The former Army Chief, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, remains the constant star in the relationship building between officers and soldiers. He developed himself into a bridge for open communication. His attitude and calm nature have dispelled all these flies of hangers-on who are busy around powers with negative intent. From his (Gololo’s) statement, facts can be deduced, according to my math teacher in secondary school, between truth and falsehood.

General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd)
He (Gololo) claimed to have visited President Bola Tinubu and saw Buratai sitting and waiting there. It is absurd to claim that a former Army Chief, who has access to every aspect of the nation’s security position, will show up in the corridor of power and then be kept waiting, as Gololo intended. He seems to have told the President about the previous Army Chief when they were together. That has the feel of fiction. When Gololo was delivering his narrative to news reporters in Abuja at the time, he appeared to have edged Buratai in front of the President over choices that are personal and only known to the President’s heart.
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We have previously revealed their evil plots to harm the former Army Chief. The evidence of Gololo’s behind-closed-door encounters with a select few journalists in Abuja comes from the mischief tables, where they concocted, pounded, hatched, and spewed out poisonous snakes. They have tried their hardest to justify their salaries, but we have the upper hand and the cure for everything they do. They can try again, but they will undoubtedly still fail. They will soon realize that they are extending their hands toward a flaming coal in an attempt to shake it.
The illuminating touch of an angel that General Buratai demonstrated has been attested to by rights foundations, organizations, soldiers, and the people. The Kalthum Foundation for Peace (KFP), a registered charity organization with headquarters in Nigeria that has worked with the military in the North-East on counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations using non-kinetic methods, responded to Gololo by saying that it was shocked by the unguarded remarks made by one Garus Gololo against Lt. General TY Buratai, the former Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army. The Foundation believes that there is no need to recount what Mr. Gololo told the press that he told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to tarnish the sterling reputation of the former COAS because it is uncertain whether or not he was even given the audience by the President, according to a statement made to newsmen by the Foundation’s Chairperson and Founder, Amb. Ummu Kalthum Muhammad Rabiu.
According to the Kalthum Foundation for Peace (KFP), the organization wishes to clear up any confusion and make it abundantly obvious that under Buratai, welfare and allowances for soldiers reached their highest levels and that every effort was made to prevent corruption by using banks as a conduit. The World Terrorism Index and other reputable international organizations recognized this victory, and former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, did his best to ensure that the troops had the weapons and equipment they needed to checkmate the insurgents. Accordingly, Nigeria recorded this victory while General Buratai served as COAS.

Buratai with soldiers recently
The foundation stated that such individuals lack any moral compass and urged the public to ignore toxic minds like Gololo and their vengeful statements. “Certainly, Mr. Gololo cannot travel to the North-East and speak to the media there as he did here in Abuja.” In fact, Buratai is adored by his soldiers in both his roles as a general on the front lines of battle and in retirement. To express their gratitude and support for him, the troops forced him to stop the final time (in January 2023) he was going through Buniyadi in Yobe State. The troops in the North East enthusiastically greet Buratai in the viral video. Two years after stepping down as COAS, this demonstrates his enduring favor with the military.
General Buratai And The Imaginative Narratives Of Gololo
Opinions
My Public Servant Journey

My Public Servant Journey
By Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji-Abba
Every journey begins with a single step, and mine into public service began on 22nd October 1990, when I took up an appointment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). At that time, I was a young man—full of ambition and determination—eager to contribute my quota to the growth of my community and my country. What I did not realize then was that this path would not only shape my career, but also mold my character, values, and outlook on life.
The Early Days
The early days were not easy. I started from the basics—handling routine administrative tasks, learning the intricacies of record-keeping, and adapting to the demanding environment of public service. It was a period that taught me patience, discipline, and humility. I quickly learned that in public service, dedication and accountability are not optional—they are the very foundation upon which trust is built.
I recall working long hours to ensure that essential records were accurate and supplies were properly managed. It wasn’t glamorous work, but it was crucial. Hospitals rely heavily on efficiency behind the scenes. Every file I handled and every item I documented could impact the quality of care delivered to patients in need.
As the years passed, I rose through the ranks. Promotions came not just as recognition, but as greater calls to commitment. Moving into supervisory and later managerial roles meant I was no longer responsible only for myself, but also for the performance and welfare of others.
Becoming Head of Department (Stores) was a defining milestone in my journey. I was entrusted with ensuring the availability and proper management of critical medical supplies. This role demanded a careful balance—ensuring accountability, minimizing wastage, and making decisions guided by both policy and ethics. It was during this phase that I fully grasped the weight of stewardship. Public service is about managing resources as if they were your own—because in truth, they belong to the people.

No journey is without its trials. The public sector in UMTH is not without its share of bureaucratic bottlenecks, resource constraints, and slow-moving systems. There were moments of frustration—delayed approvals, limited resources, or a lack of recognition.
But I learned to see these challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth. They built in me a sense of resilience, resourcefulness, and purpose. Most importantly, they reminded me that true service is not about personal comfort, but about the collective good.
Looking back, I carry with me timeless lessons that have guided every stage of my career:
- Integrity is priceless. In public service, honesty and transparency are the strongest currencies.
- Service is sacrifice. It means putting the needs of others above personal convenience.
- Leadership is responsibility. Being in charge is not about authority, but about accountability and inspiration.
- Impact is not always visible. The value of one’s work lies in the quiet difference it makes in people’s lives, even when unrecognized.
Now, with 35 years of service behind me, I see this journey as more than just a career—it has been a life of service. A life defined by quiet but meaningful contributions to healthcare delivery, administrative efficiency, and community impact.
It is indeed a remarkable coincidence that on this very date, 22nd October 1990, I began my career in the service of UMTH—and today, 22nd October 2025, I formally retire. Exactly thirty-five (35) years of committed and honorable service.
This symbolic alignment of dates signifies not only the completion of a full circle but also a journey of unwavering dedication, growth, and fulfillment. I am deeply grateful to Almighty Allah (SWT) for His guidance and protection throughout this journey, and for granting me the grace to retire peacefully and honorably.
I am honored and fulfilled by the efforts I made and the contributions I offered—even in the face of challenges. My heartfelt prayers go to those still in service: May Allah (SWT) grant you wisdom, ease, and peace to complete your own journey with honor.
To the Management of UMTH, I offer this parting counsel:
- Treat every member of staff with justice, fairness, and dignity.
- Appointments and promotions should be based on merit and seniority—not favoritism, influence, or eye service.
- Keep your promises and let honesty and transparency guide your decisions.
- Let every staff member feel valued and motivated, and let patients feel the true presence of government through ethical, heartfelt service. Revive the ethical conduct and professionalism that once defined UMTH—a place where patients receive the best care and staff are proud to serve.
In Conclusion
Public service gave me a sense of purpose, pride, and legacy. Service does not end with retirement—it is a lifelong calling. And if I were to begin all over again, I would still choose this noble path.
Because in serving others, we find the truest meaning of life. Thank you.
Comrade Abubakar a distinguished and Meritorious Retiree of the UMTH lives in Maiduguri. He is an Administrative Veteran with Accomplished and legendary Pace setting records.
My Public Servant Journey
Opinions
AND WE WILL WIN!

AND WE WILL WIN!
By: Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
Fidel Castro Ruz, historic leader and Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, celebrates his 99th birthday today, in the prime of his life.
I write this in the present tense because that’s how I feel and because that’s how the celebration is unfolding for the beginning of a symbolic year for Cuba and for all those around the world who recognize the significance of his revolutionary leadership.
I’m speaking of the centennial or the eternity of a man who remains alive in time, even when the physical, the material, turned to ashes almost a decade ago and he left it clear that he didn’t want statues or monuments in his memory.
What not even he could decree was the impossible, that is, his oblivion. And there he remains, alive and present as only the eternal is. Because that destiny, as history has proven so many times, is not decided by anyone, only by the enduring power of the ideas of those who have guided hundreds, thousands, millions of human beings to achieve their dreams of emancipation and justice.
Fidel is eternal, not by his own choice or by those of us who try to follow in his footsteps and continue his immense work of social justice. He achieved that status by interpreting, synthesizing, and making his own the magnificent accumulation of Cuban, Latin American, Caribbean, and universal pro-independence, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist, and Marxist ideals that preceded him, placing himself at the forefront for all time.
In his intense public speeches or in his long private conversations, he displayed a total command of that infinite wealth of knowledge, dazzling the most diverse audiences from the first word to the last. But what has truly immortalized him is everything he said that he transformed, every action turned into work.
In these markedly Fidel-inspired days, when each of us displays, in books, videos, traditional media, or social media, the Fidel who accompanies us, we are taking credit for that eternity, to our own heartfelt emotion and that of others who feel the same. Or to the hateful denial of those who cannot bear the dazzling vitality of his ideas.
In my case, as you might imagine, Fidel is not just present. He is a constant: a guide and a challenge. An example and a source of sleeplessness.
I feel he remains at the forefront, as in the Sierra or at Girón. Every time threats grow, when necessity compels, when the blockade seems to close all exits, the question arises spontaneously: What would Fidel do?
The good fortune of having known him, of having seen him act, and of having received his guidance many times, makes the answers easier: they are in the people, in their infinite reserves of dignity and talent. And in the indispensable unity of all revolutionary forces around Martí’s ideal of achieving all justice.
He was supported by those certainties that we understand science and innovation as a pillar of government management. And with the talent, the solid material foundation he created, and the audacity of the country’s men and women of science and thought, which he shaped for the future that is now present, we faced and defeated the pandemic and continue to strive to overcome even seemingly insurmountable obstacles like the blockade and our internal inefficiencies.
In Fidel’s history, from his student years to his undeniable presence today, there is an infinite number of lessons, and they all coincide on one point: he never allowed himself to be defeated by circumstances. Even the greatest blows from his adversary only served to elevate his stature as a leader to a higher level.
Examining each of his battles, one can see the deep motivations that this leader, born from his very core, always awakened in this courageous people, turning setbacks into victory. Then we understand the full meaning of the farewell Che Guevara dedicated exclusively to him before leaving for other lands of the world, which the Cuban people made an irrevocable goal: Until victory, always. Never forgetting the Homeland or Death that makes it possible. Nor the optimism in a word: We will win!
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
Cuban President, wrote this article on the 99th Posthumous Birthday of Former Cuban President Fidel Castro.
AND WE WILL WIN!
Opinions
VP Kashim Shettima demonstrated leadership stewardship before, during, and after the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

VP Kashim Shettima demonstrated leadership stewardship before, during, and after the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
By: Dr. James Bwala
Vice President Kashim Shettima exemplified exceptional leadership stewardship in managing the burial process of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Before the burial, Shettima played a pivotal role in expediting the repatriation of Buhari’s remains from the United Kingdom by waiving the standard five-day protocol, enabling their return within 24 hours. This swift action reflected his diplomatic acumen and coordination with international bodies, including the Nigerian High Commission in London.
During the funeral proceedings, Shettima led a high-profile delegation alongside President Bola Tinubu to Daura, Katsina State, where they conducted a solemn and respectful ceremony. The inclusion of military honors and adherence to Islamic burial rites underscored his commitment to honoring Buhari’s legacy with dignity and reverence.
After the burial, Vice President Shettima continued to embody stewardship by ensuring that Buhari’s final wishes for a modest ceremony were fulfilled. His leadership throughout the entire process not only facilitated national unity but also demonstrated respect for cultural and personal values associated with state funerals.
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s execution of assignments as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exemplifies a rare form of loyalty that underscores the essence of servant leadership. His unwavering commitment to the president’s vision and collective national welfare highlights his prioritization of service over personal ambition, a hallmark trait of true servant leaders. By maintaining unity within the administration and acting as both mentor and strategist, Shettima demonstrates responsibility and dedication that transcend conventional political roles. This steadfastness not only consolidates the administration’s objectives but also fosters trust among stakeholders.

Shettima’s ability to remain composed amid provocations reveals a deep-seated character marked by resilience and selflessness. Such conduct frustrates detractors while reinforcing his credibility as a leader who serves with humility and loyalty. Ultimately, the vice president’s approach reflects an exemplary model of servant leadership in contemporary governance, where loyalty is intertwined with accountability and genuine concern for the collective good.
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The participation of Vice President Kashim Shettima in the burial process of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura represents a significant moment of humility and solidarity among Nigeria’s elite. By actively engaging in lowering the remains into the grave, Shettima transcended traditional boundaries often observed by individuals of high status, demonstrating profound respect and unity during a solemn occasion. Such involvement is rare, as prominent figures typically maintain a distance from physically participating in burial rites. However, Shettima’s actions inspired others present to similarly set aside their social ranks and partake collectively in honoring the departed leader.

This event underscores the potential for societal leaders to model empathy and communal values during times of loss. The collective effort at Daura not only paid homage to the former president but also sent a powerful message about national cohesion and shared humanity. It challenges conventional norms regarding status and ritual participation, encouraging greater inclusivity in public mourning practices. Consequently, Shettima’s example may foster broader cultural shifts toward unity across socio-political divides.
At the third day prayers, Vice President Kashim Shettima assumed a distinctly fatherly role that transcended mere political protocol. His engagement with sympathizers was marked by genuine empathy and approachable warmth, fostering a sense of communal solidarity during a period of profound grief. This compassionate demeanor not only comforted attendees but also reinforced social cohesion among mourners who sought solace in shared remembrance.

The Vice President’s interaction with the bereaved family was characterized by carefully chosen words of encouragement and rare personal reflections. These moments provided emotional sustenance and helped to bridge individual sorrow with collective resilience. His address functioned as more than a formal eulogy; it became a sermonic message imbued with wisdom and hope, intended to guide the family through their ongoing journey of mourning.
This paternal engagement by the vice president at such a solemn occasion underscores the vital role of empathetic leadership in times of national loss. The enduring impact of his words is likely to resonate within the family for years to come, serving as both a source of comfort and an ethical compass amid adversity.
Indeed, Vice President Kashim Shettima stands as one of the most exemplary figures in Nigeria’s democratic journey. His leadership is marked by a profound commitment to humanity and an unwavering reverence for ethical governance, qualities that have distinguished him from many of his predecessors. Shettima’s approach reflects a blend of empathy and accountability, fostering trust between the government and the populace. This humane leadership style has been instrumental in addressing socio-political challenges with sensitivity and pragmatism.

Shettima’s governance is deeply rooted in moral principles, often guided by the fear of God, which underpins his decision-making processes. This spiritual foundation enhances his credibility and integrity as a leader who prioritizes national interest over personal gain. Consequently, his tenure will be recorded in history as one characterized by sincere dedication to Nigeria’s progress and stability. Through his exemplary conduct, Vice President Kashim Shettima exemplifies what it means to lead with both compassion and conviction within Nigeria’s democratic experience.
* James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.
VP Kashim Shettima demonstrated leadership stewardship before, during, and after the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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