The Coalition of 44 Eastern Nigerian Human Rights, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Intellectuals has reacted to the appointment of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (retd.) as the Ambassador to the Benin Republic.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday deployed Buratai as Ambassador to the West African country.

The President also appointed former Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) as ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Cameroon.

The coalition while reacting in a statement signed by Barr. Austin Okeke-Global Leader, Igbo Board of Deputies (Worldwide) and Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) among other groups mocked the deployment of Buratai as Ambassador-designate to Benin Republic.

The coalition described his appointment as big lesson to others especially those holding forth as senior army, police commanders in Nigeria, who gravely abuse their offices and commanding positions by massacring innocent and defenseless citizens claiming that “they are executing the orders of their Commander-in-Chief”, stressing that such conduct atrocity perpetrators, when the day of reckoning comes, it is “every man to his tent” and ‘defense of their conduct atrocities being sanctioned by their commander-in-chief’ has no place in trial chambers and that they will be put behind bar and have nothing to show forth for their stewardship.

Speaking further on Buratai’s deployment, the group noted that it is a mockery for him who has been nominated by the President and already confirmed by the Senate as “Ambassadors-designate” to still wait for four months without being posted to countries where he will serve.

The group mocked the deployment adding that it belittled Buratai and that he has ended up diminutively as “a backyard Ambassador to Nigeria’s backyard neighbor”.

The coalition said it will be a celebration but at same time a mockery and a lesson to others who violates human rights under the guise of obeying their principals.

The Statement read partly: “... a big lesson to others especially those holding forth as senior army or military or police commanders in Nigeria, who gravely abuse their offices and commanding positions by massacring innocent and defenseless citizens in their hundreds, if not thousands on yearly basis, claiming that “they are executing the orders of their Commander-in-Chief”.

“One of such conduct atrocity perpetrators still holding sway is IGP Usman Alkali Baba. Perhaps it has not occurred to them within the ambits of the international law and public consciences, when the day of reckoning comes, it is “every man to his tent” and ‘defense of their conduct atrocities being sanctioned by their commander-in-chief’ has no place in trial chambers and diplomatic circles.

“It is nothing short of mockery and demeaning per what remains as Nigeria’s international credibility, if any, that presidentially nominated and senatorially confirmed “Ambassadors-designate” would have to wait for four months without being posted to countries where they will serve. This has never happened in the history of Nigeria. To make matters worse, retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, the Nigeria’s non-war longest Chief of Army Staff, who is also most parroted and packaged Army Chief, has ended up diminutively as “a backyard Ambassador to Nigeria’s backyard neighbor”. Punishments for serial human rights violators including war and humanity crimes perpetrators do not have to manifest only when they are behind local or international bars. They begin to evolve while they still hold forth in their commanding positions and escalate to social and diplomatic circles while in service or after service and continued until they are put behind bars and after death. Such punishments also close names, reputations, achievements, rewards, recognitions and even generations.”

The group, appreciated the 31 key foreign missions in Nigeria, international communities for the prompt action they took on it letter that urged them to blacklist Buratai and others who were alleged for violating human rights.

The coalition congratulated the President of Benin Republic, H.E., Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon for his completion of first term in office and his victory for his second final term.

However, condemned his acceptance of Buratai as ‘Ambassador to Benin’ and strongly advised him to be ‘watchful’ as against destroying the international reputation of Benin Republic.

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