The dramatic confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a military officer during an enforcement exercise in Abuja on Tuesday has sparked nationwide debate.
A viral video circulating online shows Wike engaging in a heated exchange with uniformed soldiers over access to a disputed plot of land allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).
During the encounter, Wike accused the developers of lacking valid ownership documents or building approval. When one of the soldiers resisted his directive, the visibly angered minister lashed out, saying:
“Shut up! Keep quiet! You are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school… You send soldiers to intimidate who? We are all from this country… If not for the CDS who spoke to me now, you would have to kill everybody here.”
The video has since triggered mixed reactions, with some praising Wike’s firmness against illegality, while others criticised his tone and approach.
In a statement released after the incident, Wike condemned what he described as the illegal occupation of government land by military personnel allegedly acting under Gambo’s orders.
“No one, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to obstruct the enforcement of Abuja’s development laws,” Wike said through his aide, Lere Olayinka.
“They have no papers, no approvals — nothing. How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail?”
The Minister revealed he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be addressed.
Reacting to the confrontation, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe called for disciplinary action against the soldier involved, describing the exchange as insubordination.
“Who is this man in uniform? This is unacceptable. His uniform has to be removed,” Igbokwe wrote on Facebook.
However, former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, faulted Wike’s approach, describing it as a breach of protocol and decorum.
“Any law enforcement officer, in uniform or plain clothes, represents the sovereignty of the Nigerian state. To abuse such an officer diminishes the authority of the Republic,” Chidoka said.
He stressed that ministers should act through established institutions rather than personal impulse, warning that such actions could erode discipline within government structures.
Former Senator Shehu Sani also weighed in, advising Wike to exercise restraint.
“Wike is doing an excellent job in Abuja,” Sani posted on X, “but he should not be encouraged to do this kind of stunt with soldiers.”
The confrontation, though brief, has reignited discussions about the boundaries of ministerial authority, civil-military relations, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s governance framework.
