The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said the appointment of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), as Nigeria’s envoy to Benin Republic is a rare display of insight by President Muhammadu Buhari because of the gains that would accrue the country in the task at hand.
The association disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and Media Affairs Director, Zainab Yusuf.
President Buhari had earlier this week deployed Buratai to the Benin Republic as an Ambassador of Nigeria.
The statement read in part, “Nigeria’s New Envoy to Benin Republic is no stranger to security issues and well-positioned to render invaluable services in revising the cross border lines and improving economic and trade relations between the two countries. We commend the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this regard because Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary in this trying period in the country. We must also admit that Lieutenant General T. Y Buratai (Rtd.) is an asset that every nation would want to possess because of his penchant for delivering results in critical tasks as evident in his performance over the years.
“For a fact, Buratai stands tall as Nigerians Envoy to the neighbouring Benin Republic and we have no reservations in his appointment. More so, we are aware of his commitment to the Nigerian cause in the course of the several engagements he has had with the members of the intelligentsia community in Nigeria. He has always been robust in his thoughts and engagements, which somewhat culminated in the establishment of the Nigerian Army University, which greatly boosted scholarly engagement in ways to tackle insurgency in Nigeria.
“Buratai’s activities in Benin would indeed make Nigeria and Africa proud as he has done in times past, evident in the countless recognition he has brought to the country from far and wide. He’ll in no distant time, redefine patriotism and commitment to the African cause in the global arena so much to the envy of other countries. His appointment is indeed credible, timely and welcome development.”
“Benin–Nigeria cooperation is governed by several bilateral agreements concluded within the framework of the Benin–Nigeria Commission, which meets periodically. Despite the existence of this legal framework, cooperation between Benin and Nigeria doesn’t always meet the expectations of the public of these two countries, who have set up several cross-border cooperation associations in the border corrid
