Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati has slammed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order.
He was reacting to recent altercation between Wike and a naval officer, Lt. Ahmad Yerima, over a disputed land in Abuja.
In a statement during ARISE Television’s morning show on Friday, Abati criticised Wike’s actions, arguing that ministers do not have the authority to intimidate others or dictate to the media and military.
He said, “The time has come for President Tinubu to call Wike to order. Nobody is above the law of the land, and no minister has the power to intimidate everybody. No minister has the power to dictate to everybody. You dictate to the media, you dictate to the military, on the basis of what?”
Meanwhile, Wike has faulted commentators who claimed he “met his match” during his confrontation with a naval officer, Lt. A. A. Yerima, at a disputed plot of land in Abuja, saying such remarks stem from “laziness” and failure to investigate the facts.
Recall that Wike spoke during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, insisting that the ongoing public debate had ignored the underlying threat to government officials carrying out lawful duties.
“Laziness, people don’t read, people don’t investigate. I saw the lady saying Wike has met his match. And you don’t want to find out what really happened,” he said.
Wike condemned the increasing attacks on Federal Capital Territory Administration officials on enforcement assignments, warning that such incidents have escalated in recent months.
“Government officials have been attacked. Government officials are being beaten up. Government officials to the level of directorship,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind allowing such assaults while he remains the minister responsible for their protection.
