Wike’s clash with naval officer poses threat to national security  —  Buratai

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja constitutes a “clear and present danger to national security.”

Buratai, in a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, said the minister’s conduct during the incident “goes beyond mere misconduct” and represents a “reckless act that undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.”

He described the minister’s confrontation with the uniformed officer as a “verbal assault” that could erode military discipline and weaken the chain of command. 

“A minister’s public humiliation of a soldier is not political theatre. It is an attack on the foundation of our national order,” Buratai said.

The retired general, who led the Nigerian Army between 2015 and 2021, urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter as a national security concern. 

He also called on Wike to issue a public apology to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved. “The FCT minister must offer an immediate and unambiguous apology to the Commander-in-Chief and the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Buratai said.

Reacting to the remarks, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the former Army Chief’s position as misplaced. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka said Buratai’s criticism ignored the “real issue” — the misuse of military personnel.

“A former Chief of Army Staff is worried about a minister speaking to a uniformed officer, yet overlooks naval officers being redeployed from combat roles to guard uncompleted buildings,” Olayinka said. “Which of these truly endangers national security?”

The clash reportedly occurred on Tuesday in the Gaduwa district of Abuja, where Wike confronted some naval officers over a disputed land. The minister accused the officers of acting without due authorization, insisting that “no one is above the law.”

The incident has since sparked widespread debate over civil-military relations and the limits of ministerial authority in security operations.

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