Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff has criticised Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), over a face-off with military personnel over a disputed plot of land.
In a statement, Buratai said the incident poses a clear “threat to national security” and requires an “immediate and serious response”.
Similarly, a coalition of Nigerian military veterans has asked the Minister Wike, to apologize to the young naval officer for using abusive language on him during the confrontation.
Also, most Nigerians have criticised Wike, saying action is a.sumptomatic of impunity that has characterised behaviour of most government appointees.
They also regard Wike’s outburst as unbecoming of a.public official, recalling that the former Rivers Governor had demonstrated his disdain for rule of law and public decorum, even as a Governor.
On Tuesday, videos surfaced online showing Wike in a heated argument with military personnel at a site in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
However , according to Buratai, “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,” the statement reads.
“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 cannot 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.”
Buratai asked Wike to immediately issue an apology to President Bola Tinubu as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, and the 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,” Buratai said.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, the Coalition of Military Veterans criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer during the encounter.
The group said a public office holder should not use abusive language against security personnel carrying out official duties.
“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera? He should have engaged the Chief of Naval Staff privately rather than attempting to disgrace a retired senior officer,” Durowaiye-Herberts said.
According to him, a uniformed officer represents the authority of the Nigerian state, adding that disrespecting such an officer undermines public institutions.
The veterans also faulted calls for disciplinary action against the officer, saying any such move would be resisted.
“If for any reason the officer is punished, military veterans will occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister,” he warned.
He noted that military officers swear loyalty to the country and not to individual public officials and insisted that Wike should apologise to the officer.
“Wike’s action demeans the dignity of the office of a minister. He should apologise for using abusive language. It is not acceptable behaviour,” Durowaiye-Herberts added.
