Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, ret’d, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, is now Grand Patron of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.
In a brief ceremony on March 11 at the Army Resource Centre, Asokoro, Abuja, where the President of the online media association, Mr. Femi Oyewale presented a plaque of honour to the Ambassador Designate, Buratai thanked the association’s leaders and members for considering him for such enviable position.
He re-emphasised the importance he attaches to the media as useful partners in nation building. He reinstated his determination to always co operate with the media, in any way possible, for a better and safer Nigeria.
Buratai urged NAOSRE not to relent in its patriotic efforts at promoting unity and harmony between citizens and security operatives through professional and unbiased reportage.
“I thank NAOSRE leadership and members for being here today to involve me as the association’s Grand Patron for a better and safer Nigeria. The unity and peaceful co existence of our dear country is what I have always worked for. I will continue to support anything that will make Nigeria safer and secured even outside office as Chief of Army Staff.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence he reposes in me. I will never betray that confidence and I will not disappoint the Commander-in-Chief in any position of trust I am assigned from time to time,” Buratai stated.
Earlier in his presentation, Oyewale described General Buratai as radiating Warren Bennis’s philosophical definition of leader as a servant with capacity to translate vision into reality.
He said: “Of a truth, His Excellency, General Ambassador Dr Tukur Yusuf Buratai epitomized and exhibited those leadership skills as Chief Of Army Staff. We are sure he will do more in subsequent assignments.”
Oyewale disclosed that the idea to choose Buratai as NAOSRE Grand Patron is a product of the association desire to minimize errors in its pursuit of creating harmony between citizens and military operatives.
He said: “With an experienced General like Buratai as NAOSRE Grand Patron, we will always interface with him in the discharge of our media responsibilities especially security matters for a safer Nigeria.”
Oyewale’s statement reads in part: “After an exhaustive evaluation of his unmatched pedigree in professionalism, humanitarian services, commitment to officers’ welfare and undiluted love for Nigeria’s security, the leadership, Board of Trustees and members of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, have collectively chosen His Excellency, General Ambassador Dr Tukur Yusuf Buratai as our Grand Patron.
“The certificate of your Investiture as NAOSRE’s Grand Patron is hereby handed over to you.”
