The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately sack the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his verbal assault on a serving naval officer, describing the incident as “a gross disrespect to the Nigerian military and the Commander-in-Chief.”
The Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at the opening of a one-day workshop on enhancing investigative reporting of corruption within Nigeria’s defence and security sectors.
The workshop was organized by CISLAC/TI-Nigeria in partnership with the Transparency International Defence and Security Programme, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
‘Wike’s behaviour unacceptable, undermines morale of troops’
The condemnation follows the viral video in which the FCT Minister Wike was seen publicly berating Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, a naval officer over a land dispute in Abuja.
Comrade Musa said the abuse was not only demeaning to the officer but also injurious to the morale of Nigeria’s military personnel who are making daily sacrifices in combat zones.
“This is not just about one officer,” he said. “It is a disrespect to the Nigerian Armed Forces and by extension, to President Bola Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated. We call on the President to sack Wike to show the world that he values the military and appreciates the sacrifices of our soldiers.”
He added that the country cannot afford to politicize or intimidate the security services at a time they are combating terrorism, banditry, oil theft and other national security threats.
Defence sector must be insulated from politics — CISLAC
Comrade Musa stressed that the defence and security sectors must be shielded from political interference, warning that corruption, abuse of power, and institutional intimidation threaten operational effectiveness.
“Corruption in recruitment, appointments, deployment, procurement and financial management weakens our national security architecture,” he said.
He urged journalists to intensify their investigative efforts into the opaque areas of military spending, recruitment fraud, sexual exploitation in conflict zones, and other systemic abuses.
Call for credible, corruption-free security operations
Musa said although challenges persist, Nigerians must continue to support and appreciate security personnel to strengthen their morale in the frontline fight against terrorism and violent crime.
He emphasized that investigative journalism remains a critical tool in exposing corruption and ensuring accountability in security institutions.
The workshop drew participants from the military, police, paramilitary services, civil society groups, and media organizations. Facilitators emphasized collaboration between the media and civil society in spotlighting corruption that hampers Nigeria’s national security.