Former Chief of Army Staff retired Gen. Tukur Buratai has denied reports alleging that he criticised President Bola Tinubu and commended the opposition coalition.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Buratai described the publication as “false, fabricated, and malicious,” saying he never made the comments attributed to him.
“The publication claiming that I commended the opposition coalition and said President Tinubu failed to meet expectations is completely false, fabricated, and malicious,” he said.
Buratai said the report did not indicate where or when he allegedly made the remarks and challenged the publishers to provide evidence.
“Nowhere in the report did the authors state where or when I allegedly made such comments. I challenge them to provide any evidence, because none exists. This is a deliberate hatchet job,” he stated.
The former Nigerian ambassador to the Benin reaffirmed his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress and expressed support for the Tinubu administration.
“Let me be clear: I remain a loyal, card-carrying member of the APC. I remain fully supportive of this government, as my calling and conscience demand,” he said.
Buratai said his years in the military shaped his loyalty to constituted authority.
“For over 40 years, I wore the uniform of loyalty to constituted authority, and that loyalty remains with me in retirement,” he added.
He also pledged continued support for the federal government’s efforts against insecurity and insurgency. “I will continue to support constituted authority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially as the military intensifies its counterinsurgency efforts to bring total security to the nation,” he said.
Tukur Buratai accused those behind the report of spreading false information to damage his reputation.
“Those behind this wicked and reckless publication are serial peddlers of falsehood. They have tried before to tarnish my image and pull me down. And just as they failed in the past, they will fail again miserably,” he stated.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the report, describing it as baseless. “To the promoters of this vile agenda: Allah Ya fiku. Your efforts will come to nothing,” he concluded.
