By Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai has won the Africa Man of the Year 2017 Award for his personal commitment to counter-insurgency and terrorism war in Nigeria and West Africa sub-region; for being rare officer and gentleman in executing war
against Boko Haram in Northeast.
Buratai was named as the Africa Man of the Year while the Nigerian Army won the Best Institution of the Year 2017 for their supreme sacrifices and relentless efforts to clear the country of not only the Boko Haram insurgents but all forms of criminal elements for citizens
to coexist peacefully.
The confirmation of this prestigious honour on the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army as an Institution was announced in Abuja by the Pan-African amalgam, the Coalition for Governance and Leadership in Africa.
According to Okokwu Ogenyi, Chairman of group’s Award and Privileges Committee Chairman, also noted that as an infantry officer, Lt. General Tukur Buratai’s “professional approach to operational planning to fight insurgency is highly plausible.
“For us, the successes so far made in the war against terrorism in Nigeria came as a combination of good leadership enhanced by motivation through enhanced troops morale by the land forces under General Buratai.
“Records available to to us show that, General Buratai’s personal sacrifice, commitment, zeal, and determination towards eradicating insurgency in Nigeria, and by extension the whole of West Africa, have not only resulted in the defeat of Boko Haram in Nigeria but has
promoted regional peace and stability across African Nations”, the coalition stated.
The group added that “Pockets of attacks by degraded and fleeing Boko Haram insurgents notwithstanding, the Nigerian military as an institution have made unquantifiable supreme sacrifices and given their all to ensure that we all coexist in peace and harmony in the
year under review.”
The Coalition for Good Governance and Leadership in Africa noted that the winners emerged after its Award and Privileges Committee “considered numerous nominations from various organizations and individuals across Africa, disclosing that after a tedious screening exercise, the two nominees came top.
The leadership award; is an annual honour bestowed only on two African Leaders or institutions that have distinguished themselves in promoting regional peace, infrastructure, wealth creation, food security, education, and health.
Eminent Africans; who have received the honour in the past include; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Atta Mills (late), Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Monday Riku Morgan, among other awardees of the year.
