The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to his recent altercation with Naval Officer Lieutenant A.M. Yerima concerning a disputed piece of land allegedly connected to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
Speaking to journalists ahead of the FCT Executive Council meeting on Thursday, Wike condemned what he described as the “brazen impunity” of the retired naval chief for allegedly deploying serving officers to guard a private property under contention.
Responding to public criticism of his personal visit to the scene, the minister said he acted within his responsibility as a government official, insisting he could not sit idly by while public officers are being attacked and government property violated.
“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” he asked.
Recall that Wike was involved in a heated exchange on Tuesday with a naval officer, Yerima, over a plot located at No. 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, said to belong to a former naval chief.
The minister had accused the retired officer of carrying out illegal development on the land and confronted the naval officer for allegedly assaulting staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority who had gone to halt the ongoing construction.
Addressing the matter on Thursday, the former Rivers State governor faulted the use of military personnel to obstruct lawful enforcement activities by FCT officials.
“Many influential Nigerians have had similar land issues. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, will simply call me. He’ll say, ‘Minister, I have a problem on this land, can you help?’ and I’ll solve it.
“That is a former head of state — a former president — who has the courtesy to call the minister. General T.Y. Danjuma will do the same. They never sent soldiers to attack anybody. They just call,” Wike said.
The minister also faulted the naval officer for allegedly referring to police officers on the scene as “bloody police.”
“Nobody talks like that. A security man saying, ‘Bloody police! Who are these bloody police that will talk to you?’ You say you’re a commissioned officer, to God be the glory, but it is these same government officials you’re beating — the ones who made you what you are,” he stated.
Wike, however, maintained that he had the highest regard for the Nigerian military and understood the importance of the institution, insisting that his confrontation was not with the armed forces but with a private individual.
“I have respect for the military, and I’ll continue to respect them. I know what the institution stands for. I’m not a fool; I went to school. So anyone trying to suggest I have problems with them is wrong. I have no problem with the military, and I never will. Why would I have issues with the government? But this is a private matter,” he said.
It had earlier been reported that the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) condemned what it described as “reckless and uncivil behaviour” by public officials like Wike, warning that such conduct damages Nigeria’s image and erodes confidence in the nation’s governance system.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) — who also heads Transparency International (TI) Nigeria — the organisation said that public office demands restraint, humility, and discipline, not arrogance or abuse of power.
“Public officials are supposed to be civil and civilised in carrying out their responsibilities and must understand the code of conduct that guides public office,” Rafsanjani said.
“The idea of public officials attacking security personnel is unacceptable and passes a wrong message about the nation. They must be role models, not symbols of impunity.”
CISLAC was reacting to the recent public altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a military officer, which it described as “gross indiscipline and recklessness unbecoming of a public officer.”
According to the group, Wike’s conduct reflects “a consistent pattern of arrogance and lack of emotional control,” dating back to his years as Rivers State governor.
