Clash against military officer threat to national security – Buratai to Wike

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses “a clear and present danger to national security” and called for urgent action to address the issue.

Buratai, in a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, said Wike’s conduct during the incident “transcends mere misconduct” and undermines both the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.

The clash, which took place at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, involved a dispute over ownership and development rights of a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Wike, accompanied by senior officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had visited the site to halt what he described as an “illegal construction” when he confronted the naval officer supervising the property.

In the video, Wike was heard questioning the officer’s authority, 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 responded that the property belonged to a former service chief and that the military had authorization to protect it.

Buratai described Wike’s public rebuke of a uniformed officer as “a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure.” He added, “A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the very foundation of our national security apparatus. It is not political theatre—it is a reckless endangerment of national order.”

He urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the incident as a national security concern, calling for an immediate public apology from Wike to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved. “The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less. Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” Buratai said.

The incident has sparked diverse reactions. Activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the military for allegedly protecting private property instead of focusing on national security, tweeting that the situation reflects “misplaced priorities and entrenched self-interest among public officials.”

Conversely, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe defended Wike, describing the officer’s actions as indicative of systemic corruption. He said, “What this small boy displayed today has a million meanings. Who sent him on this horrible mission? Take him out of the military as soon as possible. He represents evil.”

Legal expert Prof. Sebastine Hon weighed in, stating that the officer’s actions violated the law, noting that no military regulation allows officers to guard private property. He emphasized that, as FCT Minister, Wike exercises presidential powers over land administration in Abuja.