The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended himself following an altercation he had with a naval officer, Ahmad Yarima, who led a team of soldiers to prevent access to a disputed land belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Zubairu Gambo.
Addressing journalists before the FCT Executive Council meeting on Thursday, Mr Wike said he respects institutions and had no problem with the military, but rather a private individual.
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He faulted the use of soldiers by the former naval boss to guard the disputed land and explained that he had to visit the site because he could not sit in his office while government officials including directors were allegedly being assaulted.
“How can I sit as a minister and government officials to the level of directorship are being attacked, beaten up?” Mr Wike asked, noting that officials would be afraid to carry out their duties if they knew that their principal would not protect them.
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The minister said influential individuals including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired general, and Theophilus Danjuma, also a general, had had problems regarding land issues but did not resort to impunity.
He said people like Messrs Obasanjo and Danjuma would rather call him to resolve the matter instead of using soldiers to attack anyone.
Between Wike and the naval officer
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Messrs Wike and Yarima engaged in a heated verbal confrontation after the former and his entourage were denied access to the land.
Videos of the incident show how Mr Yarima, a lieutenant, prevented Mr Wike from accessing the land, explaining that he was acting on orders.
Mr Wike demanded that the documents of the land be provided to justify the soldiers’ presence on the contested land.
“I am the minister—you can’t say that to me,” Mr Wike snapped at the officer. “This kind of impunity cannot continue.”
The minister said no one, regardless of rank, is above the law.
He accused the naval personnel of using their uniforms to protect illegal buildings and obstructing legitimate government work, stressing that soldiers must not intimidate officials carrying out lawful duties.
Further, Mr Wike accused the officers of taking actions that could have put lives at risk.
“If not for the Chief of Defence Staff, who just called me, there might have been casualties,” he said, implying that his team was ready to confront the soldiers, which could have led to violence.
The situation got tense when Mr Wike started using offensive words, calling the naval officer a fool.
“I am not a fool, sir,” the officer countered him. “I am acting on instructions, and I am a commissioned officer.”
While the Defence Headquarters has not issued any statement regarding the incident, it posted a cryptic message on its X handle, suggesting that it was in support of Mr Yarima’s action.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru also praised the officer, promising that the ministry will protect him if he was carrying out an official duty.
Public debate
The incident has led to intense public discussion, with some Nigerians criticising the minister for his actions and use of words, others criticising Mr Yarima for disrespecting Mr Wike, who represents President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, and still others criticising the military hierarchy for deploying soldiers over a land dispute.
The clash between Mr Wike and the naval officer occurred during the minister’s visit to inspect lands in the Gaduwa district area of Abuja, where he accused the Navy of encroaching on property belonging to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The officer, however, maintained that the land had been legally allocated to his principals.
Noting that the disputed land belongs to former Chief of Naval Staff Mr Gambo, a retired Vice Admiral, Lere Olayinka, Mr Wike’s aide, posted on X that the former military chief was “scammed” by the person who sold the land to him.
“He needs to use his Military Might against the person who sold land meant for PARK and RECREATION to him to build DUPLEXES, not FCTA officials carrying out their lawful duties,’” Mr Olayinka posted.
READ ALSO: Wike addresses clash with soldiers, vows to end illegal buildings in Abuja
Following the officer’s faceoff with his principal, Mr Olayinka explained that Mr Gambo deployed armed soldiers to the site “because he was told to stop building on land he has no TITLE DOCUMENT and Building Approval.”
“He also stationed armed Military Men to protect the illegal development, with the Military Men threatening to shoot anyone who interfere with them,” Mr Olayinka wrote.
In what appears to be military solidarity on the matter, a former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, described the minister’s action as a threat to national security.
He urged Mr Wike to apologise to the military.
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