Coalition Berates Wike Over Inflammatory Remarks On Ex-Army Chief Buratai
Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria has condemned what it described as the “inflammatory and unsubstantiated” comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd).
In a statement issued on Thursday, the coalition said Wike’s remarks at a public event on November 13 represented “a new low in public discourse” and amounted to an attack on a national figure who served Nigeria for more than four decades.
The statement from the coalition has its headline as civility, evidence, and respect for national heroes: a response to the remarks of the honorable minister of the FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria stated that it is deeply troubled by the inflammatory and unsubstantiated remarks made by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on November 13, 2025. His public attack on Ambassador (Lt. General rtd) Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR—a man who has dedicated over four decades of his life to the service and defence of Nigeria—represents a new low in our public discourse.
“General Buratai is not just a retired officer; he is a national icon. His service record, from his commissioning in 1983 to his tenure as the 20th Chief of Army Staff (2015-2021) and later as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, is a matter of public record. He led the charge to reclaim our nation’s territory from insurgents, professionalised the Army, and represented our country with dignity on the international stage. To subject such a patriot to public vilification based on mere conjecture is not only unfair but unpatriotic.”
The Coalition emphasised the following:
1. “The Shifting Sands of Accusation: A Pattern of Inconsistency
Nigerians are keen observers of political theatrics.We have watched with curiosity as the Honourable Minister’s allegations have morphed and shifted targets over the years. Accusations once levelled against a former GOC and a former Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, are now, over a decade later, being curiously redirected at General Buratai.
This raises serious questions:
· Is this a genuine pursuit of truth, or a desperate afterthought?
· Why has this specific allegation against General Buratai only surfaced now, long after the individuals originally accused have left the scene?
· Does the Minister believe that the Nigerian people have such a short memory that they will not notice this inconsistent and opportunistic revision of history?
A consistent narrative is built on facts; an inconsistent one is built on convenience. This pattern severely undermines the credibility of the Minister’s current claims.
2. The Demand for Evidence, Not Political Theatre
“The Minister has made grave allegations,including claims of election rigging. In a nation governed by the rule of law, allegations are not proof. If the Honourable Minister possesses any credible, documented evidence of wrongdoing by General Buratai, the path is clear: he must immediately present it to the appropriate investigative and judicial authorities.”
“Making sensational claims at a press conference, without a shred of verifiable evidence, is not accountability; it is character assassination. It is a tactic designed to smear and intimidate, not to enlighten or seek justice. We challenge the Minister to move from the podium of public spectacle to the courtroom of evidence and law.”
3. A Study in Contrast: Service vs. Spectacle
“Ambassador Buratai’s legacy is one of tangible,cross-sectoral service to Nigeria—in the military, in diplomacy, and in national security. His contributions are etched in the territories secured from insurgency and in the professional institutions he helped build.”
The Coalition avverred that in stark contrast, “the Honourable Minister’s career has been largely confined to the arena of partisan politics. While political service is legitimate, it is a different category from the lifelong, uniformed commitment to national defence. It is therefore baffling and profoundly disrespectful for a figure whose own political ambitions were decisively checked by the Nigerian people in the 2022 PDP presidential primaries, to now turn his ire against a national hero who has never been rejected by the people he served so bravely.”
4. An Appeal for Decorum and an Unqualified Apology
‘A Minister of the Federal Republic is expected to be a statesman,to model civility, and to uphold the dignity of his office. The use of intemperate language and personal invective against a respected elder statesman is beneath the office he holds and is an insult to the sensibilities of all Nigerians.”
The Coalition therefore demand:
“An unreserved public apology from Barr. Nyesom Wike to Ambassador Tukur Buratai for the reckless and demeaning language used.
· A public apology to the Nigerian people for abusing his office and platform to spread unverified claims, thereby eroding public trust.
· An immediate presentation of any alleged “evidence” to the relevant authorities, failing which his remarks should be treated as a malicious and shameless fabrication.”
Conclusion
“Nigeria is greater than the sum of its political rivalries.Ambassador Tukur Buratai represents the best of our nation—sacrifice, duty, and honour. We will not stand by while his hard-earned reputation is tarnished by the transient passions of a politician. We call on all well-meaning Nigerians and our institutions to rise in defence of truth, respect for our heroes, and the sanctity of our national values- the statements concluded.”
Signed:
Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi (Convener)
Barr. John Atani (Secretary)
Comrade Jide Alofe (Public Relations Officer)
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria