Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retired), the immediate past chief of army staff, has appealed to politicians to always leave military out of politics.

 Buratai stated this in his valedictory speech during the Pulling Out Parade by the Nigerian Army on Friday, January 29, in Abuja.

The former army chief said Nigeria needs politicians who are statesmen to support the military in discharging its constitutional duties.

Buratai tells Nigerian politicians to leave military out of politics

Former army chief Buratai . Photo credit: HQ Nigerian Army

He said under him, the Nigerian Army recorded tremendous achievements in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges in the country.

He also commended the effort of the Borno state government in the war against insurgency, assuring that the war would soon be a thing of the past.Buratai also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve the country as well as providing an enabling environment for him to succeed.

Buratai was officially pulled out of service in a parade held in his honour at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja.

In another report, Buratai recalled how he was almost retired from the Nigerian Army by a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

He made the disclosure during his official handover to Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the new chief of army staff at the army headquarters on Thursday, January 28.

He said his near retirement experience occurred 22 years ago when he was a major.

Earlier, the National Democratic Front (NDF) called on the immediate past service chiefs to ensure that they make themselves available for consultations by the newly appointed successors.

The group said the past service chiefs' wealth of experience can be used by their new colleagues in ending the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

A statement signed by NDF's secretary-general, Bolaji Abudlkadir,  applauded the numerous efforts and sacrifices made by the outgoing service chiefs.