Former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, known for his controversial tenure marked by human rights criticisms and crackdowns on protesters, has voiced serious concerns over the worsening poverty situation in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking at the 60th birthday celebration of former Rivers State Governor and Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Buratai described the current economic hardship as “radical, massive, and sudden,” contrasting it sharply with the gradual rise in poverty witnessed under previous governments.
Buratai noted, “Poverty has been increasing gradually over the years, but under the current administration, the situation has become more radical. It is massive and sudden.” He added that this abrupt shift carries significant implications for the country.
Reflecting on the contrast with the Muhammadu Buhari era, Buratai said Nigerians had been “suffering and smiling” previously, but the present challenges are now more visible and direct. “It tells us that we must fix things because we cannot continue like this,” he emphasized.
Highlighting a perceived government insensitivity to the harsh impact of its policies, Buratai stated, “The main disappointment for many Nigerians is the apparent disregard for how these policies affect ordinary citizens. Poverty and insecurity are real, and we all know it.”
Buratai also spoke on his longstanding relationship with Amaechi, dating back to 2011 when he was a brigade commander and Amaechi was governor. He praised Amaechi’s leadership and political future, recalling Amaechi’s impressive performance in the 2023 presidential primaries, where he came second behind Tinubu.
Offering a historical perspective, Buratai traced Nigeria’s systemic poverty challenges to international influences such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank policies dating back to the Structural Adjustment Programme under Ibrahim Babangida. He noted that successive administrations, including those of Shagari, Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Buhari, witnessed a steady rise in poverty.
The former Chief of Army Staff explained that this shift reflects a change from the approach taken under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He said Nigerians had been “suffering and smiling” in the past, but the current situation has made it clear that things must change, as the nation could not continue this way.
He stated that the main challenge—and the disappointment of many Nigerians—is the apparent insensitivity to the impact of government policies.
According to Buratai, “My relationship with Amaechi dates back to 2011 when he was the governor and I was a brigade commander. I have seen in him a leader who thinks deeply. He breathes security—he eats security, sleeps security, and wakes up with security. During his tenure as governor, we all witnessed what happened and what transpired.
“He was the first person to invite me into the political terrain. At the time, I was in Benin, Cotonou. One evening, he called me and said, “Come and join my political campaign for the primaries.” And behold, I had no hesitation.
“So, what happened during the primaries? He came second in the total votes. He scored 316, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored 1271. The sitting Vice President came after him, and the sitting Senate President followed. He was number two—just behind Tinubu—and ahead of others who are today numbers two and three in the current leadership model. What does that say?,” he said.
Buratai stated, “It means he has a great political future. I foresee Amaechi playing a full role in the political leadership of this country. I believe his political journey has only just begun. Your Excellency, I say congratulations.
“Secondly, these are my personal views. I’m not a member of Tinubu’s government, as you all know. But we played a prominent role in ensuring that he won the election.
“Now, on the topic of Democracy and the Republic of Poverty, I want to take a historical perspective within the context of our country. This systemic issue has been largely influenced by international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. We saw this clearly during the era of Ibrahim Babangida, with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme and belt-tightening policies. Foreign exchange deregulation also started during IBB’s regime.”
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He explained, “It continued through the administration of Shagari, through Obasanjo’s presidency, Jonathan’s presidency, and, of course, Buhari’s presidency. Over time, we witnessed the gradual pauperisation of Nigerians. Poverty levels steadily increased.
“The difference with the current administration is that the impact came suddenly and massively — it was not gradual. Listen to me: it was not gradual like in previous administrations. But this radical shift has its own merits. It shows a deliberate change from the past.
“For too long, we’ve been suffering gradually—suffering and smiling. But this time, the hardship is more visible, more direct. It tells us that we must fix things because we cannot continue like this. Again, this is my personal opinion.”
“The difference with the current administration,” Buratai explained, “is that the impact came suddenly and massively, not gradually. This radical shift shows a deliberate change from the past.”
He concluded with a hopeful note, urging that the second half of Tinubu’s term bring meaningful change. “Otherwise, I can see the opposition coalition working hard already,” he warned.
