Buratai warns Wike’s clash with Naval officer threatens National security
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has described the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja as a “clear and present danger to national security.”
Buratai, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, said the minister’s actions during the altercation “transcend mere misconduct” and “undermine the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
The incident, which reportedly took place at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, arose from a dispute over ownership and development rights to a parcel of land said to be linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
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Wike, who had led officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to the site to stop what he described as “illegal construction,” confronted a naval officer allegedly overseeing the property.
In a viral video of the encounter, Wike was seen questioning the officer’s authority to build on the land, insisting that no one, not even the military, was 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,” Wike said.
The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed by the Navy, reportedly maintained that the property belonged to a former service chief and was being lawfully protected by the military.
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Reacting to the incident, Buratai condemned Wike’s public outburst, calling it “a reckless act that undermines Nigeria’s command and control structure.”
“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the foundation of our national security apparatus,” Buratai stated. “It is not political theatre—it is a reckless endangerment of national order.”
He further argued that Wike’s behaviour disrespected the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and could demoralise serving officers across the Armed Forces.
“This action by Wike clearly undermines the Federal Government’s authority and wounds the morale of those who serve under the Nigerian flag,” he added.
The retired general, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021, called on President Tinubu to treat the incident as a matter of national security, urging Wike to issue a public apology.
“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 said.
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“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less. Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” he concluded.
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