Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has criticized the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during his recent confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja, describing it as a threat to national security.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai said the incident “goes beyond mere misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
The confrontation, which reportedly took place at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District, Abuja, arose from a disagreement over ownership and development rights to a piece of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
According to reports, Wike had visited the site with senior officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to stop what he described as an “illegal construction.” During the inspection, he engaged in a heated exchange with a naval officer said to be overseeing the property.
A viral video of the encounter showed the minister expressing anger over the officer’s presence, asserting that no one, including military personnel, is above the law.
“You are in uniform, and you’re telling me 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 was heard saying in the clip.
The officer, whose identity has not been officially released, reportedly explained that the land belonged to a former service chief and that the military was acting under authorization to protect it.
Reacting to the incident, Buratai described Wike’s actions as “a reckless display that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s command and control system.”
“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that threatens the very foundation of our national security structure. It is not political theatre—it is reckless endangerment of national order,” he said.
He further argued that the minister’s outburst amounted to disrespect for the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief, adding that such behaviour could demoralize serving officers.
Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army from 2015 to 2021, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat the matter as a national security concern.
“Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unreserved public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and to the officer whose honour was violated,” he stated.
He concluded by emphasizing that the dignity of the military must be preserved above politics.
“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less. Our national security must come first—it is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” he added.
