Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), has strongly condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, describing his recent public outburst against a uniformed military officer as a serious threat to national security and a violation of the nation’s command structure.
In a statement issued on Monday, Buratai expressed deep concern over the incident, which occurred on November 11, 2025, during which Wike reportedly reprimanded an officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces in public.
According to the former Army Chief, the minister’s conduct “transcends mere misconduct” and constitutes “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. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and wounds the morale of all personnel serving under the Nigerian flag,” Buratai stated.
He further noted that such an act “cannot be dismissed as political theatre,” describing it as “a reckless endangerment of national order and an attempt to undermine the federal government’s authority.”
Buratai insisted that the FCT Minister must immediately apologize to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, as well as to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the officer involved in the altercation.
“Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the specific officer whose honour was violated,” he said.
The retired general called for decisive action to protect the dignity and integrity of the nation’s military institutions, warning that continued political attacks on the Armed Forces could erode public trust and weaken national cohesion.
“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,” Buratai concluded.
