Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), might have gotten it wrong with his confrontation with a soldier in uniform during his enforcement visit to a disputed land in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11.
Wike was said to have called the officer unprintable names. A development, former Chief of Army Staff, Rtd Major General Tukur Buratai, noted that it “can not be dismissed as political theatre” and strongly condemned the minister’s action.
Photo Credit: @GovWike
Source: Twitter
In a Facebook post hours after the incident, the former army boss noted that the “public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces” by the minister went beyond ordinary misconduct, but was a potential threat to the integrity of the institution and national security.
According to Buratai, Wike’s verbal assault on the military officer who was in uniform was purely “profound indiscipline”, which was purely against Nigeria’s “command and control structure.” He explained that it is a direct disrespect to the “Commander-in-Chief”, which is President Bola Tinubu.
The former COAS went on to note that it would remain a wound on the morale of everyone serving the country, and it went against every pillar of discipline, which was the representation of the security apparatus of the country.
The statement reads in part:
“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.”
The former COAS then asked the minister to immediately tender a public and unequivocal apology to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the officer he verbally assaulted. He warned that Nigeria’s security must always be prioritised and the integrity of the armed forces must be respected.
Source: Legit.ng
