Former Army Chief Lauds VON’s Role in Promoting Regional Peace

Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Benin Republic and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has commended the Voice of Nigeria (VON) for its professionalism and commitment to advancing peace, regional integration, and pan-African ideals.

Speaking at the VON Forum 2026 in Abuja, General Buratai described the broadcast agency as “professional, independent, pan-African, progressive, and visionary—a Nigerian voice with an African heart.”

He paid tribute to veteran journalists associated with VON, including “the late Mohammed Okorejor, former Director of News, a most dynamic analyst with professional and patriotic zeal,” as well as “Mr. Ben Shamang, a retired Director of News, who served VON with excellence.”

The former army chief also praised the agency on its 51st anniversary and lauded the Director General of VON, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndache, whom he described as “a friend with a difference—like a son.”

Buratai underscored Nigeria’s pivotal role in West Africa’s stability, stating: “For 51 years, Nigeria has been the unshakable anchor of ECOWAS. From ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone to stabilising The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria has sacrificed and invested in blood, treasure, and diplomacy to defend democracy. Our stability is inseparable from the security of our neighbours.”

He further noted that “the African Union has consistently recognised this interdependence, working alongside ECOWAS to build a peaceful and integrated West Africa.”

Asserting the link between democracy and collective security, Buratai said: “Nigeria’s 51 years in ECOWAS prove that democracy and collective security are two sides of the same coin. ECOWAS should continue to engage the African Union to bring back the Association of Sahel States (AES).”

He reiterated that “the unity of ECOWAS cannot be complete without Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic. Without unity, progress in the region may be a mirage.”