Buratai Warns Wike Over Clash With Naval Officer, Calls Incident a “National Security Threat” — Wike’s Aide Fires Back
By Passman Akpos
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has cautioned that the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses “a clear and present danger to national security” and demands immediate corrective action.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, the former Army Chief described Wike’s conduct during the confrontation as “a reckless act that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s command and control structure,” arguing that it undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and damages the integrity of the Armed Forces.
> “A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is a profound act of indiscipline that attacks the very foundation of our national security,” Buratai said. “This is not political theatre; it is a reckless endangerment of national order.”
Buratai, who led the Nigerian Army between 2015 and 2021, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat the incident as a matter of serious national security concern.
He stated, “Barrister Nyesom Wike must issue an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and to the officer whose honour was compromised.”
The retired general further argued that such confrontations could embolden indiscipline within the ranks and erode respect for civilian authority if not promptly addressed.
However, Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissed Buratai’s remarks, saying the former Army Chief is mistaken in his assessment of the situation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka said it was surprising that Buratai would classify a verbal exchange between a minister and a uniformed officer as a national security threat, while ignoring deeper institutional problems within the military.
> “A former Chief of Army Staff is focused on a minister speaking to a uniformed officer, but ignores the real issue: naval officers who should be at the war front—confronting terrorists in the Chad Basin—are being converted into private guards for uncompleted buildings,” Olayinka argued.
“Which of these truly poses a threat to Nigeria: trained soldiers defending the nation, or them being reassigned as security guards?”
The confrontation between Wike’s team and the military personnel occurred on Tuesday in the Gaduwa district of Abuja over a disputed piece of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A.Z. Gambo (retd.).
According to Channels Television, Wike and his entourage attempted to access the land but were stopped by armed naval officers guarding the site.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one of the minister’s aides was heard saying during the heated exchange.
Visibly angered, Wike accused the officers of acting with impunity, insisting that no one, regardless of rank, is above the law.
> “You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those they can intimidate,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister also questioned the legitimacy of the land’s development, alleging that due process was not followed and that no valid documents were presented.
The incident has since ignited a nationwide debate about civil-military relations, abuse of power, and the boundaries of ministerial authority—highlighting once again the fragile balance between political power and military protocol in Nigeria’s democratic order.
