The saga between Barr Nyesome Wike, the minister of Nigeria’s federal capital Territory (FCT), and Lt AM Yerima, an officer of the Nigeria Navy, happened on 11/11/2025.
Going with available facts on the ground now is that:
1. The bone of contention is all about particular land located in Abuja.
2. The land, according to the FCT Minister, is illegal and hasn’t been approved for residential building. In a nutshell, the said owner of the land has no title documents, and has no building approval.
3. The said illegal land that was being developed belongs to a former Nigeria Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo Rtd.
4. The FCT Minister is by law and by presidential appointment the administrator of Abuja.
5. The Naval officer, Lt. AM Yerima, is under a superior, and he obeys the last order given to him by his superior, and he is my military code to obey and carry out every command of his superior to the latter.
Now to the issue and saga, the owner of the land, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo Rtd, was told to stop building on a land he has no TITLE DOCUMENT and Building Approval. Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, sent his Armed Military Security Details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control.
He also stationed armed Military Men to protect the illegal development, with the Military Men threatening to shoot anyone who interferes with them. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, visited the site.
On getting there, Nyesome Wike, the minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was prevented from going to the land and was blocked by some Naval officers. Verbal argument erupted and words were exchanged.
My question now is:
1. Does obeying orders include illegal and unconstitutional orders?
2. Aren’t naval officers by constitution and job description supposed to be guiding our waterways and ensuring the territory of our Dear country and nation, Nigeria?
3. Is the said land a barracks or a military installation?
4. Are all lands in FCT under the minister of FCT, who happens to be Barr Nyesome Wike.
5. Does Wike have the right to be there at that time and day?
6. Is the order of a superior military officer above that of the constitution?
Answering the above questions will go a long way in addressing the issues so as not to repeat itself. In all honesty, the whole issue was marred with high emotional outbursts and egocentric talk.
Are the uniforms and guns of the armed forces greater than the rule of law?
If soldiers can do this to a serving minister of the FCT, what about the ordinary Nigerian with no means to power?
If the land was really legal, why use military officers to guide it?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liberty Omorogieva writes from Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
