Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has condemned the public confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Ahmed Yerima, describing the incident as unnecessary and avoidable.
The altercation, which occurred on Tuesday at a disputed plot of land in the Gaduwa District of Abuja, went viral after a video showed Wike angrily confronting the officer, who was guarding the property alongside armed naval personnel.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said the matter should have been resolved through proper channels, noting that Wike had already been advised by both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff to allow the military to investigate the dispute.
“What happened between Wike and the officer is unfortunate. The officer was only obeying orders. Wike should not have exchanged words with him but rather taken up the issue through the officer’s superiors,” Matawalle said.
He commended the naval officer for maintaining discipline during the encounter, stressing that Yerima acted lawfully and respectfully. “The young officer carried out his duty with decorum and did not violate any military regulation,” he added.
Matawalle also cautioned that public officials must respect uniformed personnel, saying that showing disrespect to members of the Armed Forces indirectly undermines the authority of the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief.
He disclosed that the Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed site to begin an investigation into the ownership of the land, assuring that the matter will be handled in accordance with due process.
“If the land has been revoked, there are proper administrative procedures to be followed,” Matawalle said, adding that he had personally contacted Wike after the viral video to advise that the confrontation could have been avoided.
