Former Army Chief Buratai Slams Wike’s Confrontation with Naval Officer as “Clear Threat to National Security,” Demands Immediate Apology

 In a scathing rebuke that has ignited fierce debate across Nigeria, retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, has condemned Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s heated clash with a Nigerian Navy officer as a “reckless act” posing an immediate danger to national security. Buratai, who served as Army Chief from 2015 to 2021, called for Wike to issue a public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and the officer involved, warning that such indiscipline could erode the chain of command and undermine federal authority.

The confrontation unfolded on November 11, 2025, at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District, Abuja, during Wike’s inspection of an alleged illegal construction site. Accompanied by Federal Capital Development Authority officials, the minister reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation with the uniformed naval officer, who was safeguarding the property—allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. In a widely circulated video, Wike was heard declaring, “Even if you are the Chief of Naval Staff, the law must be respected,” as he asserted that no one is above the law in the FCT.

Buratai, in a strongly worded statement posted on his verified Facebook page, described the incident as transcending “mere misconduct” and representing “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,” he stated. “This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the Federal Government’s authority. It disrespects the Commander-in-Chief and wounds the morale of every officer who serves under the Nigerian flag.”

The former Army chief urged President Tinubu to address the matter as a national security imperative, emphasizing that dismissing it as “political theatre” would be a grave error. “Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” Buratai added, calling for Wike to tender “an immediate and unequivocal public apology” to restore order and respect for the armed forces.

The clash has polarized public opinion, with military veterans and security experts echoing Buratai’s concerns about the potential for eroded discipline and civil-military tensions. Meanwhile, supporters of Wike, including some legal practitioners, have defended the minister’s stance on enforcing land-use laws, accusing the military of overreach in civilian matters. As the video continues to trend on social media, the incident underscores ongoing challenges in balancing executive authority with military protocol in Nigeria’s complex governance landscape.

Buratai, now Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, has long been a vocal advocate for strong civil-military relations. His intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny of land disputes in the FCT, where Wike has aggressively pursued reforms to curb illegal developments.

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