A former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has described the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja as “a clear and present danger to national security.”
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Gen. Buratai said the incident, which occurred on November 11, 2025, requires immediate corrective action to safeguard the nation’s institutional integrity and preserve discipline within the Armed Forces.
According to him, Wike’s conduct during the encounter “transcends mere misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
Urgent Action Required: Minister Wike’s Conduct Poses a Clear Threat to National Security
“The events of November 11, 2025, involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, demand an immediate and serious response,” Buratai stated.
“His public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.”
Buratai noted that a minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform constitutes “an act of profound indiscipline” that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s command structure.
He warned that such actions deliberately undermine the chain of command, disrespect the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and damage the morale of service members across the nation.
“This cannot be dismissed as political theatre,” he said. “It is a reckless endangerment of national order and a clear attempt to undermine the authority of the Federal Government.”
The retired general further called on Wike to tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (as Commander-in-Chief), the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the officer involved in the confrontation.
“Our nation’s security must come first. This is the time for decisive action, not the politics of military bashing,” Buratai emphasized. “The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less.”
