Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), has issued a stern warning that the recent confrontation between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security. Speaking via a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai described Wike’s conduct as transcending mere misconduct, emphasizing that it undermines both the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.
The incident, which occurred at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, reportedly involved a dispute over the ownership and development rights of a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Wike, accompanied by officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority, visited the site to halt what he termed an “illegal construction,” leading to a confrontation with a naval officer overseeing the property.
In a widely shared video, Wike was seen confronting the officer sternly, asserting that no individual, regardless of military rank, is above the law. “You are in uniform, and you’re telling me that the Navy owns this land? Who gave you the right to build without approval? Even if you are the Chief of Naval Staff, the law must be respected,” the minister insisted.
The naval officer reportedly responded that the property belonged to a former service chief and claimed military authorization to protect it.
In his response, Buratai condemned the minister’s public and forceful rebuke as a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure. He stated, “A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the very foundation of our national security apparatus. It is not political theatre—it is a reckless endangerment of national order.”
Buratai further asserted that Wike’s actions amount to undermining the authority of the Federal Government, disrespecting the Commander-in-Chief, and damaging the morale of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Calling on President Bola Tinubu to treat the issue with the gravity it requires, the retired general demanded an immediate and unequivocal public apology from Wike.
“Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and to the specific officer whose honour was violated,” Buratai declared. “Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing.”
The incident has sparked significant debate across political and military circles, highlighting the delicate balance required between civilian authority and military respect in Nigeria’s security framework.
