Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Rtd), has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following his confrontation with military personnel in Abuja.
The altercation, which was captured in a video that circulated widely on Tuesday, showed the minister engaging in a heated exchange with soldiers over a disputed piece of land in the capital city.
Buratai reacts to the confrontation
Reacting to the incident, Buratai described the confrontation as a serious threat to national security and urged for immediate corrective action.
He stressed that such behaviour from a government official could erode discipline within the military and create unnecessary tension between civil authorities and security institutions.
“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,” Buratai said.
Buratai on implications of the confrontation
The former army chief warned that verbal aggression toward a uniformed officer not only disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief but also sends the wrong signal to other officers and men of the armed forces.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining mutual respect between political leaders and the military to preserve national stability and the integrity of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority,” Buratai said, urging the minister to apologise to President Bola Tinubu and the officer involved.
“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,” he added.