Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Rtd), has strongly criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent confrontation with military personnel in Abuja.
The incident, which was captured in a video that went viral on Tuesday, showed Wike in a heated exchange with uniformed soldiers during a dispute over a piece of land in the capital city.
Reacting to the viral video, Buratai described the minister’s behaviour as “a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.”
He said such actions could damage civil-military relations and send the wrong message to security agencies across the country.
“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 said in a statement released on Wednesday.
The former army chief, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff between 2015 and 2021, warned that the minister’s verbal aggression towards a soldier was an affront to the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He argued that allowing such incidents to go unchecked could embolden other political figures to disrespect the armed forces.
“This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority,”
Buratai stated.
He further called on the minister to tender an apology to President Tinubu and the officer involved in the confrontation, noting that the integrity of the military must not be compromised for political reasons.
Buratai stressed the need for mutual respect between political leaders and the armed forces, explaining that civil-military cooperation remains vital to national peace and security.
“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,”
he added.
The retired general maintained that discipline and professionalism are the foundation of military service, and any attempt to publicly ridicule officers could weaken morale within the ranks.
The altercation has sparked widespread debate among Nigerians, with many expressing concern that the exchange between a senior government official and military personnel could set a negative precedent.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has yet to issue an official statement addressing the incident or Buratai’s remarks.
