Former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai has issued a strong demand for Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to offer immediate apologies following a controversial incident involving a uniformed military officer. The confrontation, which occurred on November 11, 2025, has raised serious concerns about national security and military-civilian relations.
Confrontation Sparks National Security Concerns
The events of November 11, 2025, took a dramatic turn when Minister Nyesom Wike engaged in what witnesses described as a public disparagement of a uniformed officer from the Nigerian Armed Forces. According to military sources, the incident transcended mere political theater and represented a clear threat to national security and institutional integrity.
Former COAS Buratai emphasized that a minister's verbal assault on a military officer in uniform constitutes an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the very core of Nigeria's command and control structure. The confrontation deliberately undermined the established chain of command and showed disrespect to the authority of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Implications for Military Morale and Discipline
Military analysts have expressed concern that such actions could grievously wound the morale of personnel serving under the Nigerian flag. The incident has been characterized as eroding the fundamental foundation of discipline upon which the national security apparatus stands.
This cannot be dismissed as ordinary political disagreement, according to security experts who have monitored the situation. They describe the minister's actions as reckless endangerment of national order and a clear indication of undermining the federal government's authority.
Calls for Immediate Resolution
In response to the escalating situation, former Army Chief Buratai has outlined specific demands for resolution. Barrister Nyesom Wike must tender an immediate and unequivocal public apology to three key entities: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the specific officer whose honor was violated during the confrontation.
The former military leader stressed that Nigeria's security must remain the top priority, emphasizing that this situation requires decisive action rather than politics of military bashing. The integrity of Nigeria's Armed Forces demands nothing less than full accountability and respect for established protocols.
This incident marks one of the most significant confrontations between a sitting minister and military personnel in recent years, highlighting the delicate balance between civilian authority and military protocol in Nigeria's democracy.
