The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says he would not sit in his office while officials of the FCT Administration being attacked out there.
Addressing newsmen on Thursday, Wike was reacting to his recent confrontation with a naval officer over a contested plot of land reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
The Minister lashed out at what he termed the retired naval chief’s audacity in deploying active-duty officers to guard the disputed property.
He stressed that he could not remain passive while government officials were under attack, emphasizing his duty as a public officer to intervene in such situations.
“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what,” he asked.
DAILY POST reports that things got heated between Wike, his entourage, and some soldiers on Tuesday over a land in the Gaduwa district of the area.
According to the Minister, the retired naval officer was undertaking unauthorized development on the contested plot and confronted the naval officer over the alleged assault of Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, staff who had gone to halt the construction.
The former Rivers state governor faulted the deployment of military personnel to impede the lawful enforcement actions of FCT officials, describing it as an unacceptable abuse of authority.
