Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd) has issued a strongly worded statement demanding immediate action against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, following an incident on November 11, 2025, involving a uniformed military officer.
In a statement titled “Urgent Action Required as Minister Wike’s Conduct Poses a Clear Threat to National Security,” Buratai asserts that the Minister’s actions go beyond simple misconduct and constitute a “palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity.”
Buratai argues that a minister’s alleged verbal assault on an officer in uniform is an act of “profound indiscipline” that fundamentally challenges the nation’s military 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,” the statement read.
“Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.”
The former COAS dismissed any attempt to categorize the incident as mere “political theatre,” insisting that it is a “reckless endangerment of national order” and a clear indication of “undermining the Federal Government’s authority.”
Lt. Gen. Buratai subsequently called for immediate and decisive action, demanding that Minister Nyesom Wike issue an unequivocal public apology to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (as Commander-in-Chief), the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria and the specific officer whose honour was allegedly violated.
Buratai concluded by stressing the primacy of national security over political considerations: “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.”
The statement, by the former Chief of Army Staff, calls on relevant authorities to address the matter swiftly and firmly.
See the statement below:
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED AS MINISTER WIKE’S CONDUCT POSES A CLEAR THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
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.
Tukur Buratai
