𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐢 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his confrontation with a military officer at a disputed land site in Abuja.

Videos of the encounter, which circulated on Tuesday, showed Wike engaging in a heated exchange with soldiers reportedly guarding the area. The minister had visited the site after allegations that armed personnel had driven away officials of the FCT Department of Development Control.

In a statement, Buratai described Wike’s conduct as a “grave act of indiscipline” that poses a threat to national security and the authority of the Commander-in-Chief.

“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,” he said.

Buratai warned that such actions undermine the military’s chain of command and could damage morale among service members. “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,” he added.

He urged Wike to apologise to President Bola Tinubu and the officer involved, saying national security must not be politicised.

“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,” Buratai stated.