Retired Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, following a verbal confrontation with a uniformed Nigerian Armed Forces officer on November 11, 2025.
Buratai described the minister’s public rebuke as more than mere misconduct, calling it a “palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.”
He warned that such behaviour strikes at the heart of the nation’s command structure, deliberately undermining the chain of command, disrespecting the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and damaging the morale of personnel serving under the Nigerian flag. According to him, the incident erodes the discipline that underpins the nation’s security apparatus.
The former army chief stressed that Wike’s actions should not be dismissed as political theatre, noting that they represent a reckless endangerment of national order and a direct challenge to federal authority.
He urged the minister to issue an immediate public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces, and the officer whose honour was violated.
Buratai concluded that safeguarding national security and maintaining the integrity of the Armed Forces must take precedence over political disputes, warning that decisive action is necessary to uphold institutional respect.
His statement read: “The events of November 11, 2025, involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, demand an immediate and serious response. 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.
“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. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag. Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.
“This can not be dismissed as political theatre. It is a reckless endangerment of national order. This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority.
“Consequently, Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the specific officer whose honour was violated.
“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.”
