A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has cautioned that the recent altercation between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses “a clear and present danger to national security” and requires immediate corrective action.
In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai said the minister’s actions during the incident “go beyond mere misconduct” and “undermine the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
Buratai criticised the minister’s tone and public rebuke of a uniformed officer, describing it as “a reckless act that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s command and control structure.”
He said, “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 added, “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.”
Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, called on President Bola Tinubu to address the incident as a serious national security issue.
He stated, “Barrister Nyesom Wike must issue an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and to the officer whose honour was compromised.”
Reacting to Buratai’s criticism Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, said the former Army Chief is mistaken in claiming that the Minister’s actions pose a security threat.
Olayinka argued that Buratai should be more concerned about naval officers being reassigned from frontline duties to serve as private security guards.
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