The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he “wouldn’t have called a military personnel a fool” following his recent altercation with a naval officer, Lieutenant A. Yerima, over an alleged land dispute in Abuja.
The confrontation occurred on Tuesday in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, where armed military officers, allegedly acting on instructions from retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, resisted efforts by Wike and officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) to halt an unapproved development at Plot 1946. The FCTA was attempting to enforce a demolition order on an illegal structure.
Speaking at a press conference, Wike said his earlier remarks were misinterpreted. “Some people said I said the boy is a fool. What I meant is you cannot carry out an illegal order. That is what I meant. I didn’t say, ‘Military, you are a fool.’ I couldn’t have said that,” he clarified.
Wike further stressed that he recognizes the role of the military in Nigeria and expressed support for security agencies. “I know the role of the military, the role they are playing in this country, that they have passed through fighting insurgents and terrorists and I have always given my support to security agencies,” he said.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, meanwhile, criticized the public nature of the confrontation, urging that such disputes should be resolved through official channels. In an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle stated that Wike had contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking further action.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” Matawalle said. He praised Lieutenant Yerima for maintaining a professional and disciplined attitude throughout the encounter.
The incident has highlighted tensions surrounding land disputes in Abuja and underscores the importance of following established protocols when engaging security personnel in enforcement operations.
