Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has appealed to Nigerians to reject foreign interference over moves to make public documents reportedly connected to drug-related investigations involving President Bola Tinubu more than three decades ago.
Buratai made the call in a position paper titled, “Nigeria First: A Case for Protecting National Sovereignty and Dignity – A Patriotic and Non-Partisan Perspective,” which he shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.
According to him, the controversy should not be allowed to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty or create a negative perception of the country internationally.
A United States District Court for the District of Columbia has reportedly given Tinubu, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice until August 28, 2026, to challenge the release of the documents.
Buratai argued that the matter should not be viewed solely as an issue involving Tinubu, saying any fallout from the disclosure could extend to Nigeria and its citizens.
“This is not merely about Bola Tinubu— it is about 250 million Nigerians whose national pride, economic prospects, and global standing hang in the balance.”
He expressed concern that international reports about the allegations could affect how Nigeria and its citizens are perceived globally.
“When the world reads headlines about a ‘Nigerian president’ linked to drug allegations, they do not separate the man from the nation. They see Nigeria. They see Nigerians.”
The retired general also urged Nigerians to consider the age of the allegations, which date back about 33 years, rather than allowing them to become the sole measure of Tinubu’s political career.
“Can any Nigerian honestly claim that they are the same person they were 33 years ago? Can any nation claim that its leaders should be judged exclusively by the actions of their youth rather than by their decades of subsequent service?”
He said Tinubu’s years in public service, including his time as Lagos State governor and his later involvement in national politics, should form part of any assessment of his record.
Buratai also questioned the appropriateness of a foreign court becoming involved in determining the reputation of Nigeria’s sitting President.
“Does the United States have the right to determine the reputation of Nigeria’s head of state? Should a foreign court be the arbiter of character for a man elected by millions of Nigerians?”
He maintained that Nigerians have their own institutions and democratic processes for dealing with questions concerning their leaders.
“We did not elect an American court to vet our leaders. We did not ask the FBI to determine the character of our president,”
The former Army chief called on politicians from different parties to avoid using the issue for political advantage, saying the country’s interest should remain the priority.
He further warned that the controversy could affect Nigeria’s economy by creating concerns among foreign investors and international partners. He listed foreign direct investment, development partnerships, diaspora remittances, tourism and Nigerian companies operating abroad among areas that could face possible consequences.
“These are not abstract concerns; they are concrete threats to the livelihoods of everyday Nigerians,”
Buratai also raised concerns about the timing of any possible document release ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that it could create room for foreign influence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He stressed, however, that opposing foreign interference should not be interpreted as supporting impunity among public officials.
“This does not mean that leaders should be immune from accountability. It means that accountability must be pursued in ways that respect the dignity of the office and the nation,”
He asked the Federal Government to engage the United States through diplomatic channels and urged Tinubu’s lawyers to pursue every available legal avenue to prevent the release of the documents.
Buratai also recommended stronger public communication, engagement with Nigerians abroad and greater national unity should the documents eventually be made public.
He said Nigeria must equally improve its domestic institutions so that issues involving the conduct of its leaders can be addressed effectively within the country.
“This is not about defending Tinubu the individual; it is about defending Nigeria,”
The retired general added, “We will not allow foreign courts to determine our leaders’ legacies. We will not allow foreign legal proceedings to dictate our national narrative. We will not sacrifice 250 million people on the altar of a 33-year-old case.”
Buratai urged Nigerians to approach the matter “not out of fear, but out of conviction—the conviction that our nation’s pride is not for sale, our dignity is not negotiable, and our future will not be determined by a foreign court’s judgment on a distant past.”