Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has described the recent altercation between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja as “a clear and present danger to national security,” urging President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter with utmost seriousness.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai criticised the minister’s public confrontation with the officer, saying the incident undermines military discipline and disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.
According to the former Army Chief, Wike’s conduct during the confrontation “goes beyond mere misconduct.”
He wrote:
“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 further warned that such behaviour “erodes the morale of officers” and “weakens the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
“Wike’s actions clearly 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,” he stated.
Buratai, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, urged President Tinubu to view the episode as a serious national security issue, insisting that the minister should tender a public apology to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved.
Reacting to Buratai’s statement during an appearance on Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to the FCT Minister, dismissed the former Army Chief’s position, saying he was wrong to describe Wike’s actions as a security threat.
Olayinka argued that Buratai’s concerns were misplaced.
“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,” he said.
“Which of these truly poses a threat to Nigeria: trained soldiers defending the nation, or them being reassigned as security guards?” Olayinka added.
The confrontation reportedly took place on Tuesday in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where Wike and his entourage clashed with military officers guarding a disputed piece of land.
Eyewitnesses told DAILY GAZETTE that tensions escalated when the officers prevented the minister’s team from accessing the site.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one of Wike’s officials was heard saying during the incident.
Wike, visibly displeased, questioned the soldiers’ actions and the legitimacy of their presence on the land.
“You have no document,” he said, alleging that the development on the property did not follow due process.
“We cannot continue to act in impunity. You cannot be higher than the government or carry a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that can be intimidated,” the minister added.
The soldiers, however, maintained that they were acting on instructions and declined to vacate the site.
