A former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Nigeria, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja on Tuesday poses “a clear and present danger to national security”.
The former COAS and one-time Ambassador to Benin Republic called for immediate corrective action to remedy the situation.
Gen. Buratai, in a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, said Wike’s conduct during the exchange “transcends mere misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
The Full details are below:
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED AS 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. 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.
A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag.
Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.
This cannot be dismissed as political theatre. It is a reckless endangerment of national order. This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority.
Consequently, Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the specific officer whose honour was violated.
Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing. The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less.
Tukur Buratai
Buratai’s statement comes after a viral video showing a confrontation between the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and a Lieutenant of the Nigerian Navy identified as AM Yerima.
