Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has described the recent confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja as a serious threat to national security, calling for urgent corrective action.
Buratai, in a statement on his verified Facebook page, said Wike’s behavior during the exchange “goes beyond misconduct” and “undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.”
The clash, which reportedly occurred at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, stemmed from a dispute over ownership and development rights to a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Wike, accompanied by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had visited the site to stop what he called “illegal construction” and confronted a naval officer said to be supervising the property.
In a viral video, Wike was seen reprimanding the officer, saying:
“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.”
The officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly claimed that the property belonged to a former service chief and that the military was authorized to protect it.
Reacting to the incident, Buratai condemned Wike’s public rebuke of the officer, calling it “a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure.”
He stated,
“A minister’s verbal assault on a uniformed officer is an act of profound indiscipline that undermines our national security apparatus. It disrespects the Commander-in-Chief and demoralizes officers serving under the Nigerian flag.”
Buratai urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat the matter as a national security issue, demanding that Wike issue “an immediate and unreserved public apology” to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved.
He added,
“The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less. This is the time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing.”
Meanwhile, activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the military’s involvement in the dispute, describing it as evidence of misplaced priorities and self-interest among officials. He wrote on X,
“The military should protect our borders, not private lands. This reflects the deep corruption among public officials, including @GovWike.”
In contrast, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe defended Wike, calling the officer’s actions “a display of arrogance” and urging his dismissal from service, saying, “He represents evil.”
Legal expert Prof. Sebastine Hon also weighed in, stating that military personnel have no legal authority to guard private property. He noted that, as FCT minister, Wike holds presidential powers over land matters in Abuja.
