Samuel Omang
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the confrontation between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses a serious threat to national security.
Buratai, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, and obtained by The Journal Nigeria, said Nyesom Wike’s conduct during the exchange “transcends mere misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
The clash reportedly occurred at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, over ownership and development rights to a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. The FCT minister, accompanied by senior officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had visited the site to stop what he described as an “illegal construction” when he encountered a naval officer supervising the property.
In a viral video of the incident, Nyesom Wike was seen rebuking the officer and insisting that no individual, including members of the military, was above the law.
“You are in uniform, and you’re telling me that the Navy owns this land? Who gave you the right to build without approval? Even if you are the Chief of Naval Staff, the law must be respected,” Wike was heard saying in the video.
The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, maintained that the property belonged to a former service chief and that the military was authorised to protect it.
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Reacting to the development, Buratai described Nyesom Wike’s outburst as “a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure.”
“A minister’s verbal assault on a uniformed officer is an act of profound indiscipline that undermines the foundation of our national security apparatus,” Buratai said.
“This behaviour disrespects the Commander-in-Chief and dampens the morale of every officer serving under the Nigerian flag.”
The retired general, who led the Nigerian Army from 2015 to 2021, urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the incident as a national security concern.
He also demanded that Nyesom Wike issue an immediate public apology to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved.
“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less. Our nation’s security must come first—it is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” Buratai added.
The Nigerian Navy has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, even as the viral video continues to spark public debate. While some Nigerians support Nyesom Wike for enforcing FCT building regulations, others fear the minister’s confrontation could strain civil-military relations in the country.