Reactions to the dramatic altercation between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer on Tuesday during an enforcement drill in Abuja were divided.
The Minister reportedly got into a violent altercation with some soldiers about access to a home within the zone in a video clip that went viral online.
The conflict started when Wike and representatives of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) tried to access a contested piece of land that was purportedly connected to Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), the former Chief of Naval Staff.
In the video, Wike is shown arguing angrily with uniformed troops stationed at the location, claiming that the developers did not have building approval or legitimate ownership. The minister became obviously enraged when one of the soldiers disobeyed his orders, yelling:
“Stop talking! Don’t speak! You’re an idiot. You were still in elementary school when I graduated. To intimidate whom do you deploy soldiers? All of us are citizens of this nation. You would have to murder everyone present if it weren’t for the CDS who just talked to me.
Since then, the video has sparked public discussion about the Minister’s and the soldier’s actions.
Critics contend that Wike’s strategy demonstrated a lack of self-control and regard for institutional order, while his supporters praise his determination and zero tolerance for criminality.
Wike responds
In a statement following the event, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike denounced what he called an unlawful seizure of a disputed piece of property in Abuja by military forces purportedly acting on orders from a previous Chief of Naval Staff.
Wike called the behavior “lawless and unacceptable” in a Facebook post by his media assistant, Lere Olayinka, emphasizing that no one, regardless of position, would be permitted to interfere with the implementation of Abuja’s development legislation.
He stated, “The Land Departments and Development Control have been mandated to monitor illegal development and land grabbing.” “I ordered that nothing should happen there because there were no legal documentation or approvals when this situation was brought to my attention. Sadly, our officials were chased away by military.
Following claims that military had once more returned to obstruct FCTA officers from conducting lawful enforcement, Wike claimed to have personally visited the location.
He remarked, “I don’t understand how someone who once held such a high office can’t come to the FCT Minister to explain his situation instead of using soldiers to intimidate people.” “I refuse to give in to intimidation or blackmail.”
The minister also disclosed that neither building approval nor ownership documentation were provided by the developers.
They don’t have any documents, approvals, or anything. How can we let lawlessness continue to be the norm? What about regular Nigerians without the support of the armed forces?
According to Wike, he had already contacted the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Defense Staff, who assured him that the issue would be resolved.
“We’re not here to start a firefight or wreak havoc. However, I will not permit this to occur. No one shall be permitted to engage in unlawful development of government property, even past Chiefs of Naval Staff.
He warned that the FCTA will keep reclaiming encroached areas “no matter how powerful the individuals involved” and reiterated his commitment to reestablishing responsibility and order in Abuja’s land administration.
An APC leader demands that the officer be fired
In response to the altercation, Joe Igbokwe, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), demanded that the soldier who spoke with Wike face disciplinary punishment.
Igbokwe was furious over the altercation and demanded that the soldier’s uniform “be removed” for what he called an act of disobedience in a Facebook post.
“Who is this uniformed man? What kind of meat does he eat? For him, who is beating the drum? This is not acceptable. Igbokwe wrote, “His uniform must be taken off.”
Wike went too far. Former Minister of Aviation Chidoka
Osita Chidoka, a former minister of aviation, disagreed, criticizing Wike’s strategy and charging him with abusing his power.
Chidoka called the FCT Minister’s choice to personally carry out an order “a fundamental misstep” in a statement headlined “Minister Wike: Power, Process, and the Rule of Law.”
“The President and the Nigerian state’s sovereignty are represented by any law enforcement official, whether they are dressed in uniform or not. The Republic’s power is diminished when such an officer is abused, according to Chidoka.
He maintained that rather than acting on their own initiative, ministers are supposed to operate through established organizations.
If the officers were behaving illegally, a formal notification to the Minister of Defense would have been sufficient. He continued, “Trading words with a uniformed officer undermines discipline and distorts hierarchy.
Additionally, Chidoka criticized the behavior of Wike’s DSS security assistants, claiming that their job was to reduce rather than increase tensions.
He described the interaction as “a cautionary tale” about authority, procedure, and restraint in public service, adding, “Their responsibility was to extract their principal from a potentially dangerous situation, not to escalate it.”
Shehu Sani: Wike shouldn’t perform feats with military
Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna, cautioned Wike against “performative confrontations” with security guards.
In a post on X, Sani stated, “Wike is doing an excellent job in Abuja, but he should not be encouraged to do this kind of stunt with soldiers.”
Veterans of the armed forces criticize Demand an apology, Wike
A group of Nigerian military veterans, however, also denounced the minister’s outburst and accused him of demeaning public institutions and insulting a uniformed officer.
The Coalition of Military Veterans argued that Wike’s remarks were inappropriate for a public figure in a statement released by its spokesperson, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts.
“On camera, how can a minister refer to an officer as ‘a fool’?” Durowaiye-Herberts inquired. “If he was accountable, he ought to have had a private conversation with the Chief of Naval Staff instead of trying to bring shame to a retired senior officer.”
The organization threatened to stage protests if any attempt was made to punish the soldier in question.
The spokesperson issued a warning: “Military veterans will occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister if the officer is punished for any reason.”
The veterans demanded that Wike issue a public apology.
The statement said, “Military officers swear loyalty to the nation, not to individual public officials.” “Wike’s behavior diminishes the honor of the minister’s position.” He ought to express regret for his use of derogatory language. This behavior is unacceptable.
Sign of a malfunctioning system: CSO
The alleged deployment of soldiers by former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd) to guard a disputed piece of land in Abuja has been denounced by the Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network, or CRRAN, as unconstitutional and an attack on the rule of law.
The group said the occurrence is “an aberration in a constitutional democracy” and a “clear sign of a failed system” where the military is abused for personal gain in a statement signed on Tuesday by its president, Olu Omotayo.
According to Omotayo, it is unsettling that a retired senior military officer could send troops to guard private property when terrorists and robbers are besieging several areas of the nation.
The statement said, “Redundant officers are being deployed to guard an empty land when terrorists and bandits have taken over some parts of the country, maiming and killing Nigerians every day, in a country where the security of lives and property cannot be guaranteed.”
He remembered that General Olufemi Oluyede, the current Chief of Defense Staff, had previously told the National Assembly that the military was increasingly being used to carry out police responsibilities; he claimed that this “further exposes the institutional decay in the system.”
According to CRRAN, the Nigerian Constitution does not support the former Naval Chief’s purported force deployment.
Omotayo clarified that the Armed Forces can only assist civil authorities when called upon by the President and under circumstances specified by an Act of the National Assembly, citing Section 217(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and a Court of Appeal ruling in Hon. Minister of Defence & Anor v. Ochikiri & Ors (2020) LPELR-51352(CA).
He declared, “The dispute over Abuja land is neither an emergency nor an uprising to warrant military deployment through the President or the National Assembly.”
The group cautioned that if such acts go unchallenged, they could strengthen impunity and jeopardize citizens’ constitutionally protected fundamental rights.
“Deploying troops over a land dispute is unlawful and an attack on the rule of law, regardless of the motivation. The statement went on, “We condemn in all its consequences the deployment of troops by a former Chief of Naval Staff to prevent FCT officials from accessing the land.”
Instead of being utilized for personal gain, Omotayo asked the military to concentrate its efforts on battling insurgency and banditry in some regions of the nation.
“The difficult areas of the nation where bandits have taken control are where military presence and action are most needed right now. Before the nation continues to decline in the eyes of the world, this needs to be done immediately, according to CRRAN.
The group urged Nigerians to be on guard and oppose any attempts by people or organizations to break the law.
Buratai: Wike’s actions pose a threat to national security
Tukur Buratai, a former Chief of Army Staff, strongly denounced Wike’s actions.
Buratai urged for a quick response in a statement, characterizing the conflict as a danger to national security.
According to Buratai, “his public denigration of a Nigerian Armed Forces uniformed officer goes beyond simple misconduct; it represents a tangible threat to national security and institutional integrity.”
He went on to say that verbally attacking a military officer by a minister disrespects the Commander-in-Chief’s authority, undermines the chain of command, and lowers the morale of military personnel.
Buratai urged the minister to apologize to President Bola Tinubu and the offending officer, saying, “This action by Wike is clearly an indication of undermining the federal government’s authority.”
“The security of our country must come first. It is time to take decisive action rather than engage in military-bashing politics. Nothing less is required to maintain the integrity of our armed forces,” he continued.
