A shouting match between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a Naval officer over residential building linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd) at Gaduwa area in the nation’s Capital City, has sparked a significant backlash on social media, with netizens taking.
The standoff occurred on Tuesday when the unidentified soldier reportedly blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a section of land within the locality.
During the incident, the minister went ballistic, and shouted on top of his voice but the naval officers stood their ground.
“You are a fool,” Wike barked at one of the armed officers, but responding calmly, the Naval officer responded, “I am not a fool”.
The security personnel in Wike’s entourage tried to persuade the naval officers to allow Wike access the land but they refused.
Wike stated further, “We cannot continue to act in impunity. We cannot continue this way. This country cannot go along this line.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that they can intimidate,” the minister shouted, while the naval officers who said they were acting on orders from above refused to allow him go in.
“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position, seeing that he has a problem, cannot approach my office to say, ‘Look, this is what’s going on,’ or simply because he is a military man, they could use that to intimidate Nigerians.
“I’m not one of those kinds of people who will succumb to blackmail”, Daily Trust quoted Wike.
TheNewspad reports that Nigerians are celebrating the gallant military officer who stood up against FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Reacting, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), a former Chief of Army Staff, said Wike confrontation with a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja represents “a clear and present danger to national security”.
The former Army Chief however called for urgent corrective action.
But reacting on Facebook page, Joe Igbokwe, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, condemned the action of the naval officer, stating that the verbal exchange was act of insubordination and a direct challenge to constituted authority.
He queried: “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed”.
“This is the young man, Lt. Yarima that challenged FCT 001 HE Nwike. The young officer has no respect for constituted authority. This is unacceptable. His uniform should be removed asap”, he said.
Responding to the viral footage on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kaduna Central former Senator, Shehu Sani commended Wike for his efforts in restoring order and discipline in the FCT, but warned against taking things too far.
“Wike is doing excellent job, but warned that should not be encouraged to do this kind of stunt with soldiers”, Sani said.
