“The conduct of the DSS protective details was equally unprofessional. Their responsibility was to extract their principal from a rancorous and potentially dangerous situation, not to escalate it. Security officers must remember that their loyalty is to the state, not to personalities. This episode is a cautionary tale: This episode demeans the dignity of the office of the Minister and undermines the image of disciplined governance.”
By Mark Orgu, News/Comments
Abuja-The open confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory Minister of Nigeria, Chief Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, and a young Navy officer, Lieutenant AM Yerima has spark reactions across Nigeria as concerns and emotions bid over an alleged
land grabbing at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District,by a former Chief of Navy staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gamb, rtd. Minister Wike and his entourage who stormed the place on Monday to ascertain the land but were resisted by some military men who said they were only obeying order angered the Minister, that resulted to fraca among security aides and insults.
Gaduwa geographically is located in phase two of FCT, at the wing of Southwest centre. It is a site around the crossroad between outward Abuja, sharing area like Gudu to North, Apo Dutse to the East while Lokogoma, south.
Wike who felt angry over what he described as unfortunate, insisting that it is within his constitutional right to have access to any land as FCT Minister, as long as owners of property did not follow due process in acquiring.
Meanwhile, a former Chief of Army Staff under late President Muhammadu Buhari, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, rtd, had said that Wike’s confrontation with a military officer undermines authority of the Commander-in-Chief , President Bola Tinubu. Describing the situation as very unethical and a threat to national security and institutional integrity.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Buratai said the incident, which reportedly occurred on Nov. 11, amounted to undermining the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and could negatively affect military morale.
The former Army Chief further hinted that such public confrontation or disparagement of a serving officer in uniform by a political office holder was “an act capable of weakening the chain of command” and could set a wrong precedent for civil-military relations.
“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure. It undermines constituted authority and threatens national order,” .The Armed Forces of Nigeria operate strictly on hierarchy, respect for uniform, and established channels of communication” Emphasising that any action that weakens those values could compromise national security. Continuing, he said, the alleged incident “could not be dismissed as political theatrics,” stressing that the uniform represents the authority of the Nigerian state and the sacrifices of men and women serving the country.
He therefore advised the Minister to swallow his pride and issue an unreserved and unequivocal public apology to President Bola Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, of the Armed Forces, and to the affected officer.
“Our nation’s security must always come first. The integrity of our Armed Forces demands nothing less,” he added.
On his part, former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace development ,Chief (Barr) Osita Chidoka, while reacting on his X handle, wrote :Minister Wike: Power, Process, and the Rule of Law
“Any law enforcement officer, in uniform or plain clothes, represents the President and the sovereignty of the Nigerian state. To abuse such an officer is to diminish the authority of the Republic itself.”
“Minister Nyesom Wike’s decision to personally enforce a directive at a disputed site was a fundamental misstep. In constitutional democracies, power operates through institutions not impulse.”
“Executive authority must be exercised or adjudicated through the courts, ministries, and lawful instruments of state, never through confrontation. No matter how justified a grievance, a minister cannot become an enforcer; that violates the very idea of ordered government.”
“In a democracy, ministers act through process, not presence. A formal communication to the Minister of Defence, whose office oversees the Armed Forces, would have sufficed. If the officers were on illegal duty, the established disciplinary systems would have addressed it.”
“When a minister trades words with a uniformed officer acting under orders — lawful or otherwise — it corrodes discipline and confuses hierarchy.”
“The officer’s duty is to obey the chain of command, not verbal instructions on a roadside; the minister’s duty is to act through lawful channels.” The Minister should apologise to the officer for using abusive language. It is not acceptable behaviour.
“The conduct of the DSS protective details was equally unprofessional. Their responsibility was to extract their principal from a rancorous and potentially dangerous situation, not to escalate it. Security officers must remember that their loyalty is to the state, not to personalities. This episode is a cautionary tale: This episode demeans the dignity of the office of the Minister and undermines the image of disciplined governance.”
Other famous Nigerians in their various X handles wrote:
@Delemomodu: Today na today, but who shall rein in Nyesom Wike whose excesses have become totally unacceptable
@Senator Shehu Sani-Wike is doing an excellent job in Abuja but should not be encouraged to do this kind of stunt with soldiers.
@Dele Farotimi-When insanity jam impunity
@Lauretta Onochie-Even in the face of intimidation, bullying and threats, this officer and a gentleman, Lt. AM Yerima, was polite in all his responses. He is a role model for all Nigerian youth. I salute your compure and professionalism. Nigeria needs more of him.
In another development, Sahara reporters have releases a detailed report, quoting a source directly engaged in the matter, stressing that the revocation and redistribution were carried out “in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals.”
The report: Fresh details have emerged on the land dispute that triggered Tuesday’s confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and soldiers who stopped him and his officials from entering a property in Gudu district, Abuja.
Speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters, a legal practitioner involved in the case explained that the disputed 30-hectare land was initially allocated to serving and retired military personnel but was later revoked by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The lawyer revealed that the same was reallocated to Wike’s political associates, including a top ally alleged to be the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Sam Amupitan.
The source who has been directly engaged in the matter, said the revocation and redistribution were carried out “in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals.”
“I am personally involved as a lawyer in this matter and several other cases of revocation and reallocation of land to private persons by Wike,” the source said.
“Wike revoked the land which totals 30 hectares and allocated it to some persons, one of whom we were told in confidence is the current INEC Chairman. Unfortunately for Wike, a former naval chief (Awwal Gambo) and some serving army personnel have vested interests in the land and have partly developed same.”
The source claimed that the land was originally designated as park and recreation area, but Wike allegedly “changed the land use to multi-purpose” and issued fresh Rights of Occupancy (RofO) to new beneficiaries.
In a letter dated 17th May, 2022, and addressed to the MD/CEO, Santos Estate Limited, the author, Hajiya Riskatu Abdulazeez, the Director, Parks & Recreation Department, said, “This is with reference to your letter dated 21 February, 2022 on the above subject-matter.
“In view of the above, please NOTE as follows: a. The development, management and operation of ideal Recreational Parks, especially on large Green Areas, require huge financial investment and therefore, the Policy trust of FCTA on Park development is centred mostly on collaboration with private organisations. Occasionally large Green Areas are sub-divided into lots (A,B,C, etc) to accommodate various applications for Parks development.
“b. Green Area Plot 1946, CZ B13, Gaduwa is very large with a size of about 31 Hectares. It is part of the Parkway System within Gaduwa District. Available records indicate that in 2007, this Green Area was sub-divided into lots and committed to various organisations, including: 1. Santos Estates Limited 2. Curio International Ventures 3. Curio Communications Limited.
iv. Mozad Ventures Limited V. Decency Hotels Limited
“Where any other information is made available to the Department, you can be updated. The above information is based on record and information presently available on the Plot. Thank you.”
But the lawyer continued, “Approval was sought since 2014 but was ignored, even where there is a memo recommending approval. Wike ignored the memos, changed the land use from park/recreation to multi-purpose and issued fresh RofO to some powerful private persons.”
The dispute reportedly came to a head when Wike, accompanied by about 50 armed police officers and two bulldozers, stormed the estate site in an attempt to reclaim and demolish the structures already built by the military allottees.
“Capt. Adam Yariman is the officer Wike is insulting in that video,” the lawyer told SaharaReporters.
“I was with him when we received information that Wike had gone to the site with 50 personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and two bulldozers to demolish and dispossess the owners.”
He added that the Nigerian Army had challenged Wike to go to court, but the minister had allegedly refused.
“The Army has challenged Wike to go to court but he has refused to do so, apparently because he knows he’s wrong,” he said.
The lawyer accused Wike of telling aggrieved landowners to “go to court” whenever confronted, despite ignoring existing court processes and administrative reviews.
The confrontation between the minister and the military officers was captured in a viral video obtained by SaharaReporters, showing Wike in a heated argument with an army officer who refused to yield ground.
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