Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja represents “a clear and present danger to national security” and must be urgently addressed.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai condemned Wike’s conduct, saying it “goes beyond mere misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
He described the minister’s public rebuke of a uniformed officer as “a reckless act that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s command and control structure.”
“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is a profound act of indiscipline that attacks the very foundation of our national security. This is not political theatre; it is a reckless endangerment of national order,” Buratai stated.
The retired general further said Wike’s actions “undermine the authority of the Federal Government, show disrespect to the Commander-in-Chief, and damage the morale of every officer serving under the Nigerian flag.”
Calling on President Bola Tinubu to treat the incident as a national security concern, Buratai urged Wike to issue “an immediate and unequivocal public apology” to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved.
However, in a response during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed Buratai’s claims, saying the former Army Chief had exaggerated the issue.
Olayinka argued that the real concern should be “naval officers being reassigned from frontline duties to serve as private security guards.”
He said, “A former Chief of Army Staff is focused on a minister speaking to a uniformed officer, but ignores the real issue: naval officers who should be at the war front—confronting terrorists in the Chad Basin—are being converted into private guards for uncompleted buildings.”
The altercation reportedly occurred at the Gaduwa district in Abuja on Tuesday when Wike and his team clashed with soldiers guarding a disputed piece of land. The minister accused the officers of blocking lawful access and acting without proper documentation.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those they can intimidate,” Wike said during the heated exchange.
What You Should Know
The clash between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer has sparked national debate, with former Army Chief Tukur Buratai warning that the incident undermines military discipline and national stability.
Wike’s camp, however, insists the minister acted within his authority and accused the military of misusing personnel.
The confrontation, which occurred over a disputed land in Abuja’s Gaduwa district, highlights growing tensions between civil authorities and the military, prompting calls for clearer boundaries and mutual respect between government officials and security agencies.
