IN a fiery press conference on Thursday at his official residence in Gwarinpa, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, reacted to the tense confrontation with a military officer over a disputed piece of land in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, connected to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
Speaking extensively, Wike condemned the acts of lawlessness and selective enforcement that he said undermine the country’s progress and governance.
The minister recounted that the clash began after officials from the FCT Department of Development Control sought to enforce a stop-work order on the property, known as Plot 1946, due to an absence of valid building documents and approval.
“When the matter was reported to me, I instructed that all work on that plot should stop immediately because there were no legal documents or development approvals,” Wike said.
However, the minister revealed, soldiers guarding the site thwarted government officials, chasing them away and blocking access. “I was told that soldiers came and drove our officials away,” he stated.
Expressing his disbelief, Wike questioned why a former military leader of high standing would bypass official channels to use intimidation instead of proper engagement: “I don’t understand how someone who once held such an important office will not come to explain his position to the FCT Minister but would use soldiers to harass government officials. I will not tolerate that or bow to intimidation.”
Wike, reflecting on Nigeria’s challenges, stated, “I cry for this country because it is unfortunate; either we trivialise everything that happens, either we bring religion to our country, or the class we belong to. But no country can ever succeed if we continue to allow impunity and lawlessness.”
He insisted that no country can grow if it allows such lawlessness to persist “even amongst government officials, not to talk about private individuals.”
Wike openly admitted his readiness to confront political opponents directly, saying, “Yes, I’ve wounded people politically, I have no regret about it. And I will continue to wound.” Addressing critics who claimed he had “met his match” in the military officer, A.A. Yerima, he attributed their misunderstandings to a failure to investigate facts: “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.”
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Wike recounted, “Government officials have been attacked. Government officials are being beaten up. Government officials to the level of directorship.” He challenged the logic of allowing attacks on officials who carry out lawful duties while he remains in office as their protector: “How will some officials carry out their functions again when they know their principal and their boss cannot protect them?”
Reflecting on his dealings with distinguished retired military personalities and political figures, Wike acknowledged respectful communications from figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General T.Y. Danjuma who never resorted to force but sought solutions through dialogue. “General T.Y. Danjuma will call you. These are people with discipline. They never sent soldiers. They never sent anybody to go and attack anybody,” the minister emphasised.
He explained that the land involved was originally allocated to a company, Santos, for parks and recreation, not to any individual or military official, adding that attempts to alter the land use were repeatedly denied by the former minister.
Wike indicted the former CNS for selling land illegally and assaulting government officials charged with enforcing the law, adding that he must have been scammed, insisting he does not have the required documents to lay claim to the land. MK
The minister condemned selective law enforcement influenced by military ties or ethnic affiliations, stating, “Government cannot enforce laws because you are taxed or you had a relationship or you come from a particular place. Who does that? Who does such a thing?” He warned that even if the land were theirs, “will you build without building approval? These are people who travel overseas. Even when you have a building at your backyard, you can’t even go and extend. You must seek approval from the cities.”
Unabashedly, Wike declared his representation of the presidency and the law: “I represent the president as a minister. So if, for example, a minister arrives, you mean you cannot have that decorum, that respect, and say sir, you know, I will get back to you. Nobody talks about that.”
He rebuffed the military officer’s claim to authority, reminding that “it is the same government officials that you are beating; they are the ones who made you a commissioned officer. You are not beating private people.”
Wike strongly opposed the deployment of military force to intimidate government officials executing lawful work: “Is that why you should deploy the military? You see a whole director, deputy director, senior government officials. It did not occur to you to say, let me see how I can resolve this matter?”
The minister exhorted colleagues and citizens alike to perfect their legal documents, warning of impermanence in office: “I say it that even when you are working with me, you are not here forever. Perfect your document. The mere fact that nobody did that yesterday does not mean that nobody will not do that tomorrow.”
Wike also accused former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), of directing election rigging against him in 2019: “He cannot teach me. This was the same man who directed his GOC to rig my election in 2019. He couldn’t rig me. He lost. He told his GOC to kill me. He could not kill me.” Despite political rivalry, Wike proclaimed his continued support for President Bola Tinubu and his readiness to challenge opponents from any party, saying, “I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu. I stand by the side of the law.”
Affirming firm political support, Wike declared, “I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu and I have never hidden my admiration and I will continue to do it.”
The minister emphasised the imperative of abiding by law and maintaining decorum: “Yes, you are a young man, yes, you are a commissioned officer, but I am a minister and I’m representing Mr President. That alone should have given you that decorum. But no, no, you choose to challenge the minister representing the president.”
Wike reiterated that illegal orders must not be obeyed: “When you are an officer you are doing something illegal. Even if it’s a legal order given to you, that job you are doing is illegal.”
He assured no tolerance for intimidation or unjust actions: “Nobody is going to do anything. Even when you take action.”
A.I
