Buratai Calls for Immediate Action Over Wike’s Confrontation with Military Officer
Buratai Calls for Immediate Action Over Wike’s Confrontation with Military Officer
Buratai Calls for Immediate Action Over Wike’s Confrontation with Military Officer
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), has described the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a uniformed military officer as a matter of serious national concern, calling for urgent corrective action.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Buratai said the minister’s public confrontation with a serving officer during an alleged land dispute in Abuja on November 11, 2025, was “not just misconduct, but a threat to national security and institutional discipline.”
According to the retired General, the verbal exchange — captured in a viral video — represents “a palpable attempt to undermine the authority and morale” of the Nigerian Armed Forces, warning that respect for the chain of command is essential to maintaining national stability.
“A minister’s public disparagement of a uniformed officer in the line of duty strikes at the very foundation of our military discipline and national command structure. It weakens the confidence of officers and men who serve this nation with loyalty and sacrifice,” Buratai stated.
He emphasized that the incident should not be dismissed as political drama, stressing that such behaviour, if left unchecked, could embolden acts of indiscipline and erode the sanctity of civil-military relations.
In the widely circulated footage, Wike was seen angrily berating the officer, reportedly calling him a “fool” and saying, “As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school!” — a display of open disrespect toward a serving member of the Armed Forces performing his duty.
Buratai condemned the act as “a direct assault on the discipline, morale, and command structure” of Nigeria’s military institutions, adding that it undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and threatens the stability of civil-military relations that sustain national order.
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“It is unacceptable that any minister would insult or publicly embarrass a military officer, let alone in the course of duty. This behaviour erodes the foundation of respect and discipline upon which our nation’s defence architecture is built,” he said.
The former Army Chief urged Barrister Nyesom Wike to tender an immediate and public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the officer involved. He said the matter transcends politics and directly affects national cohesion and the integrity of Nigeria’s security institutions.
“Our nation’s security must come first. The integrity of the Armed Forces demands nothing less,” Buratai concluded.
Buratai Calls for Immediate Action Over Wike’s Confrontation with Military Officer
