The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has spoken about his recent confrontation with a naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over a disputed land in Abuja said to belong to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd).
Speaking to journalists before the FCT Executive Council meeting on Thursday, Wike criticized what he called the retired naval chief’s impunity in sending serving officers to guard the disputed property.
He defended his decision to personally visit the site, saying he could not sit back while government officials were being attacked.
“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.
Wike had earlier confronted Yerima on Tuesday at Plot No. 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, after reports that the naval officer assaulted Federal Capital Development Authority staff who went to stop construction on the land.
The minister condemned the use of soldiers to block lawful enforcement by FCT officials.
He compared the situation with how other influential Nigerians had handled similar disputes.
“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, will simply call me. He’ll say, ‘Minister, I have a problem on this land, can you help?’ and I’ll solve it.
That is a former head of state, a former president , who has the courtesy to call the minister. General T.Y. Danjuma will do the same. They never sent soldiers to attack anybody. They just call,” he said.
Wike also accused the naval officer of insulting police officers who were at the scene.
“Nobody talks like that. A security man saying, ‘Bloody police! Who are these bloody police that will talk to you?’ You say you’re a commissioned officer, to God be the glory, but it is these same government officials you’re beating the ones who made you what you are,” he said.
Wike, however, stressed that he respects the Nigerian military and his issue was not with the institution but with an individual.
“I have respect for the military, and I’ll continue to respect them. I know what the institution stands for. I’m not a fool; I went to school. So anyone trying to suggest I have problems with them is wrong. I have no problem with the military, and I never will. Why would I have issues with the government? But this is a private matter,” he said.
