The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned what he described as a show of arrogance and impunity by a retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, over an alleged assault on government officials during a land dispute in Abuja.
Speaking before the FCT Executive Council meeting on Thursday, November 13, Wike expressed outrage over reports that Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) staff were beaten by military personnel allegedly guarding a property linked to the former naval chief at Gaduwa District.
“How can I sit as 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?” Wike asked angrily.
The altercation reportedly began on Tuesday when Wike personally visited the site at No. 1946, Gaduwa District, to stop what he described as illegal construction.
The visit quickly escalated into a confrontation between him and a naval officer, Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, who was said to have defied orders to vacate the land.
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Wike questioned why a retired officer would deploy serving military personnel for a private matter, describing it as an abuse of power.
He also drew comparisons with other high-profile Nigerians who had handled similar land disputes with decorum.
“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?’ General T. Y. Danjuma will do the same. They never send soldiers to attack anybody. They just call,” Wike stated.
He further condemned Yerima for allegedly insulting police officers at the scene, saying, “A security man saying, ‘Bloody police! Who are these bloody police?’ That’s unacceptable.”
Wike clarified that his comments were not directed at the Nigerian military as an institution but at individuals misusing their influence.
“I have respect for the military and what it stands for. I have no problem with them — this is a private matter,” he said.