Buratai Urges Nigerians to Resist Foreign Scrutiny of Tinubu

Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, called on Nigerians to reject foreign interference in national affairs concerning President Bola Tinubu amid allegations of drug trafficking dating back over 30 years. In a position paper titled “Nigeria First: A Case for Protecting National Sovereignty and Dignity,” published on his Facebook page, Buratai warned that the potential release of documents related to these investigations could harm Nigeria's international reputation and economic interests.

A U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has set a deadline of August 28, 2026, for Tinubu, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice to oppose the release of these documents.

Buratai argued that the allegations should not overshadow Tinubu's subsequent public service, including his tenure as governor of Lagos State. He stressed that Nigeria's democratic institutions should address such allegations, asserting that foreign courts should not determine the character of Nigeria's elected leaders.