(Thoughts and Principles on the Journey to Generalship: The Legend of Buratai Vol 3; Lt General (Dr) TY Buratai, Retired, nam; 2022)
Reviewer: Sancho Ogande Ada
LEADERSHIP in its best form is built on the transformational power of including the younger generation of any epoch on the right track. The issue of leadership continuity is one core pattern of ancient African society as seen in the relationship between the youth age-grade being groomed for leadership through the wisdom of the elders. It is exactly this transformational pattern of leadership —creating a learning track for the younger generation in the army — that Lt General Buratai achieves in the third volume of The Legend of Buratai in Thoughts and Principles on the Journey to Generalship.
Aside being a memoir on the journey of Lt General Buratai as a second lieutenant in 1983, the book is also a leadership manual for young officers on what is needed and the kind of attitude that is crucial to the rise to generalship in the army. In the introduction, he author gives what can be said to be the ideal definition of a leader which he notes “are persons who have the ability to influence, guide, and direct others to achieve specific goals and objectives” (5).
The author takes readers on an extraordinary expedition through his remarkable military career but he first established that his being in the army is a divine providence. He notes that everything into “Being” is not caused by coincidences; it is rather life driving towards everyman’s destiny taking us through the path that is meant for us (p, 21). He takes readers through his village, claiming “Everything about me stems from or is influenced by that community. I was born there, and also started my early life there” (13). This is an ode to places, and remembering that no matter how far we go in life, we should always remember home.
The book is written in simple language, and also takes an explanatory approach that is typical of teachers. This is not surprising because Lt General Buratai started his life as a teacher. In a humorous way typical of a leader, he reminisces when a lady tells him that without being a soldier, he would not have been able to get another job, unknown to her “…I was also a teacher and a good farmer!” (21). His journey as a teacher is well captured in his schooling rail and childhood (p, 15). In this teacher-ly approach, he begins the chapter on leadership after a brief narration of his childhood in chapter one, by defining generalship “as the skill or practice of exercising military command or functions of a general. Generalship has also been defined as a general’s rank, office, or tenure, as leadership or expertise in the conduct of war. In the military, it is tightly linked to and intertwined with leadership, management, and strategy…” (29). He shares invaluable insights and leadership principles derived from his experiences on the front lines of military activities. This captivating account delves into the heart of leadership in the military service, offering a compelling blend of military ethics and profound wisdom that resonate far beyond the military realm.
Lt General Buratai’s memoir is a riveting show of humility, dedication, and tenacity of those who serve in the armed forces, spotlighting how these virtues can take them to the height of generalship. From the opening pages, the reader is drawn into the captivating narrative as the General recounts his early days in the military and the defining moments that shaped his path to becoming a respected army leader. With candid humility, he shares the challenges he encountered, the hard-won lessons learned, and the profound personal sacrifices made along the way.
One of the most commendable aspects of the memoir is General Buratai’s ability to apply key leadership lessons learned in the military to any situation. He persuasively demonstrates how important flexibility, foresight, and resilience are. The reader gains a comprehensive grasp of the complexity of leadership as he flips the pages. The memoir’s power lies in its honesty about life, which is the fact that the truism of Buratai’s teaching is applicable in various fields. For instance, he dedicates a whole chapter to the idea of reading and how it influences one’s leadership quality. In the chapter simply and poetically written as “If You Want to Lead, Read,” Buratai begins with a religious allusion to the life of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and the angel who tells him “iqra”—which in English means ‘read’—and to Buratai, “It will be not be out of place to say that this instruction is still relevant today to both military and civilians” (91).
Thoughts and Principles on the Journey to Generalship and the way Buratai goes about his takes on the issues of leadership reflects the practicality of his life. Even before the chapter on reading to be a leader, the way he cites writers in the literary circuit shows his versatility. While talking about the needed qualities for the journey to generalship, he cites Margaret Atwood’s Sunday Drive and her take on the need to be like and how it’s an illusion that chains the human spirit (p, 73). The book offers invaluable wisdom to leaders, in any profession as his teaching goes beyond only the military domain, seeking to drive their organisations towards success.
Despite the fact that the biography is an insightful and motivational read, some readers could find themselves yearning for more in-depth accounts from specific crucial occasions in Buratai’s career that elucidates the point of leadership. A more thorough examination of specific battles or military tactics might have enhanced the story and increased its effect.
Despite this however, Thoughts and Principles on the Journey to Generalship is an outstanding memoir that demonstrates the development of a combatant into a visionary leader. Anyone in a leadership position, whether military or civilian, can benefit from the profound knowledge of General Buratai’s lessons, which were developed from his lived experiences. The book serves as a tribute to the ongoing significance of leadership in achieving excellence in any endeavour with a tale that adroitly bridges the divide between the military and civilian worlds. I recommend it to young military officers and civilians who are interested in learning about leadership beyond the perceived falsehood that often trailed submission by motivational speakers.
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