Wike must tender apology to Tinubu, attacked officer, says ex-COAS Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), has sounded the alarm over the actions of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, describing them as a direct threat to national security.

Buratai’s warning follows the events of November 11, 2025, when Wike reportedly publicly disparaged a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The retired general said the minister’s conduct went beyond mere misconduct, striking at the very core of the nation’s military command structure.

He stressed that Wike must issue an unequivocal apology to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the officer involved to preserve the respect and integrity of Nigeria’s armed forces.

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“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, and wounds the morale of all personnel serving under the Nigerian flag,” Buratai stated.

He emphasized that Wike’s actions cannot be dismissed as political theatre, labeling them a reckless endangerment of national order and an undermining of the federal government’s authority.

Read full 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.