Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says his confrontation with A.M Yerima, a naval officer, over a disputed piece of land allegedly owned by Awwal Zubairu Gambo, a former chief of naval staff, arose because of the assaulting of government officials assigned to the site.
Wike spoke to journalists ahead of the FCT Executive Council Meeting on Thursday.
The former Rivers State Governor condemned Gambo for deploying serving naval officers to secure the property, describing it as “abuse of power”.
The Minister said it was wrong for a retired military officer to use serving personnel to “obstruct lawful activities” of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
Responding to criticisms over his decision to personally visit the site, Wike said he could not remain passive while government workers faced attacks.
“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?” Wike asked.
On Tuesday, a video circulated online showing Wike in a heated exchange with Yerima at a site in the Gaduwa district of Abuja.
The land, identified as plot 1946, was said to belong to Gambo, who allegedly began construction on it despite an FCDA directive halting the work.
The Minister accused the retired naval chief of illegal development and said the FCDA officials sent to enforce the law were assaulted by security personnel attached to the property.
Wike criticised the “use of military intimidation” in civil matters, adding that many Nigerians have always resolved such disputes through dialogue.
“Many influential Nigerians have had similar land issues. 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,” Wike said.
“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.”
The Minister also criticised Yerima for allegedly referring to police officers on the scene as “bloody police”.
“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.”
Wike clarified that he had no issue with the Nigerian Military as an institution, noting that his actions were directed at an individual, not the Armed Forces.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“How do you see a private individual know you fully well that’s you are against the law, it is not military versus government, if it was military I would have written to them, but this is a private individual.
“Land was not allocated to him, land was allocated to Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation use.”
