Nigerians have taken to social media to condemn the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his conduct during an unscheduled visit to Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where he reportedly clashed with military personnel.
In a video circulating online, Wike was seen calling a Naval officer—believed to be the leader of the soldiers on site—“a fool.” The officer, identified as Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, responded calmly, saying, “I am not a fool; I am only following orders.”
Wike had stormed the site following reports that soldiers had taken over the disputed parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd).
Expressing anger during the visit, the minister said officials of the FCT Department of Development Control were chased away from the area by armed soldiers while attempting to enforce a stop-work order earlier issued by his office.
The soldiers reportedly blocked entry into the property with a truck, preventing the minister and his team from gaining access.
According to Wike, the FCT authorities discovered that the developers had no valid documents or legal approval for the property.
“You are aware that the land departments and Development Control have been mandated to monitor illegal developments and land grabbing in the FCT,” Wike said.
“When this matter was brought to my attention, I directed that nothing should take place on that plot since there were no legal documents or urban regional approvals. Unfortunately, I was informed that soldiers chased our officials away.”
The minister said he found it troubling that soldiers allegedly acting on the instructions of the former Naval Chief had taken over the property.
“I don’t understand how someone who once occupied such a high office cannot come to the FCT Minister to explain his situation but instead uses soldiers to intimidate people. I am not one of those who will succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” he said.
Wike added that no building approvals or relevant land documents were produced when Development Control officials requested them.
“How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail in this country? What about those who do not have the military or security forces to protect them?” he queried.
The minister vowed that the FCT Administration would not tolerate any attempt to use security operatives to frustrate legitimate enforcement actions.
He disclosed that he had spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“We are not here for confrontation or to cause chaos, but I will not allow illegality to thrive. The same way we enforce the law in other parts of Abuja is the same way we will do here. No one, not even a former Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law,” Wike declared.
The FCT Administration has in recent months intensified efforts to curb land racketeering and illegal developments across the territory, demolishing several high-profile properties for noncompliance with planning regulations.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation and governance expert, Osita Chidoka, has faulted Wike’s handling of the incident, describing his conduct as unbecoming of a senior government official.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Chidoka said any officer in uniform represents the President and the sovereignty of Nigeria.
“To abuse such an officer is to diminish the authority of the Republic itself,” he wrote.
He described Wike’s decision to personally enforce a directive at a disputed site as a “fundamental misstep,” stressing that executive authority in a democracy operates through institutions and lawful processes—not personal confrontation.
“In a democracy, ministers act through process, not presence,” Chidoka stated.
According to him, a formal communication to the Minister of Defence would have been sufficient to address any alleged misconduct by the soldiers.
“The officer’s duty is to obey the chain of command, not verbal instructions on a roadside; the minister’s duty is to act through lawful channels,” he added.
Chidoka further criticised Wike’s security detail for escalating tensions instead of defusing them, warning that “security officers must remember that their loyalty is to the state, not to personalities.”
He concluded by urging Wike to apologise to the officer involved, describing the episode as one that “demeans the dignity of the minister’s office and undermines the image of disciplined governance.”
