Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd.), has urged Nigerians to close ranks in defence of the country’s sovereignty and national dignity amid an ongoing legal proceeding in the United States over the possible release of documents relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Buratai made the call in a position paper titled “Nigeria First: A Case for Protecting National Sovereignty and Dignity — A Patriotic and Non-Partisan Perspective,” arguing that the controversy should not be treated merely as a personal legal matter involving the President but as an issue with potential implications for Nigeria’s international image and national interests.
According to the former Army chief, reports concerning documents allegedly connected to investigations dating back more than three decades could generate international publicity capable of affecting perceptions of Nigeria and its citizens.
He said the United States District Court for the District of Columbia had fixed August 28, 2026, for President Tinubu, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice to respond to issues surrounding the possible release of the documents.
Buratai said the FBI’s indication that it possesses “highly sensitive” information and its request to make submissions privately before the court had heightened the significance of the case.
However, he maintained that Nigerians should approach the development primarily from the standpoint of national interest.
“We are not protecting Tinubu; we are protecting ourselves. We are protecting the millions of hardworking Nigerians who have never been accused of any wrongdoing but who will bear the stigma of this disclosure,” he said.
Buratai argued that international audiences could potentially associate allegations involving a sitting Nigerian President with the country itself, with possible consequences for Nigerian citizens, businesses and institutions operating abroad.
He expressed concern that sensational media reports and social media narratives surrounding any disclosure could overshadow Nigeria’s achievements in areas including business, technology, academia, sports and the creative industries.
Buratai questions 33-year-old allegations
The retired general also questioned the weight that should be attached to allegations relating to events said to have occurred about 33 years ago, arguing that individuals and societies could undergo significant changes over such a long period.
He said Tinubu’s subsequent political career and years of public service should also form part of any assessment of his record, rather than allowing allegations concerning a distant period to define his entire career.
On the issue of national sovereignty, Buratai said Nigerians should be concerned about the broader implications of a foreign judicial process examining the past of a sitting Nigerian leader.
He argued that questions concerning the character and conduct of Nigerian political leaders should primarily be addressed through the country’s constitutional and institutional mechanisms.
“We did not elect an American court to vet our leaders. We did not ask the FBI to determine the character of our president. We have our own processes, our own institutions, and our own standards,” he said.
Buratai, however, stressed that his position should not be interpreted as a demand for political leaders to be shielded from accountability.
Rather, he said accountability should be pursued through appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms while preserving the dignity and interests of the Nigerian state.
Warns of economic fallout
The former Army chief also warned that a significant deterioration in Nigeria’s international image could have economic consequences.
He cited potential implications for foreign investment, international business relationships, diaspora engagement, tourism and the reputation of Nigerian companies operating outside the country.
According to him, the potential consequences should not be dismissed because ordinary Nigerians, who had no connection to events allegedly dating back decades, could ultimately bear the impact of any reputational crisis.
Buratai also appealed to political leaders across party lines not to turn the controversy into a partisan confrontation, insisting that the matter should be approached from the perspective of Nigeria’s national interest.
He expressed concern about the timing of the legal proceedings ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that the release of sensitive information involving the incumbent President could significantly influence political discourse and the democratic process.
Calls for diplomatic response
The former Army chief called for diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States, stronger legal representation for Tinubu, public education on the implications of the case and engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora.
He also advocated the development of a communication strategy to manage any eventual disclosure and urged Nigeria to strengthen its domestic institutions for addressing questions concerning public office holders.
Buratai said the country should prepare for all possible outcomes of the court proceedings while maintaining its commitment to national sovereignty and dignity.
He concluded:
“Nigerians must resist this not because we blindly support any leader but because we love our nation. We must do so because we refuse to let foreigners define our national identity.”
He urged Nigerians to distinguish between support for an individual political leader and the broader responsibility of protecting the reputation and interests of the Nigerian state.
Buratai served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021.
