Face-off with military officer: Wike defied top military chiefs’ advice- Defence minister

*Says confrontation with Lt. Commander Yerima unfortunate

*I have respect for military but abhor lawlessness, says FCT minister

*Ex-CDS faults public reactions to Wike saga, says uniform symbolises state power

Emeka Agu with agency reports

Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle, has claimed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, defied the advice of top military chiefs and went ahead to confront a naval officer, Lieutenant Commander Yerima, at a disputed site in Abuja.

Recall that the FCT minister had on Tuesday engaged in a heated argument with the naval officer during a visit to a property site in Gaduwa District, Gudu, Abuja, allegedly belonging to a retired Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo.

In an interview with DCL Hausa released on its YouTube channel on Wednesday, Matawalle described the incident as unfortunate and said Wike had earlier contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking any action.

“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” the minister said.

Matawalle explained that the naval officer only acted according to instructions and had shown discipline and respect during the exchange.

“He (Wike) is our colleague, and Wike could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue. The officer’s action was lawful—he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer only carried out his duty worthy of commendation,” he stated.

According to the Defence Minister, the officer did not violate any military rule and conducted himself properly throughout the encounter.

“He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely obeyed a lawful order and followed due process. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly,” Matawalle added.

He further cautioned that government officials must show respect to members of the Armed Forces, noting that disrespect to a uniformed officer indirectly undermines the authority of the President as Commander-in-Chief.

“There is, therefore, no offence under military law for which he should be charged. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is, therefore, no basis for any punishment against the officer,” he said.

Matawalle clarified that his remarks were not meant to justify indiscipline within the military but to emphasise the importance of following command procedures.

“This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully toward civilians. The Minister should understand that every officer has superiors. I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation,” he explained.

The Defence Minister revealed that Wike ignored the advice and instead rushed to the site to personally confront the officers.

“However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation,” Matawalle said.

He added that the Chief of Naval Staff had also assured Wike that an inquiry would be conducted, yet the FCT Minister still preceded to the location.

“Wike also contacted the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that an investigation would be conducted. Yet again, he did not wait. It was supposed to be a one-day inquiry, but he chose to go there and confront them,” the minister noted.

Matawalle confirmed that the Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed area to begin a formal investigation into the ownership of the land.

“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area—since it involves a land dispute—the matter will be investigated to know who owns the lawful documents,” he said.

He added that any revocation of the land should have followed proper administrative and diplomatic procedures rather than confrontation.

“If the land has been revoked, there are established procedures to be followed diplomatically,” Matawalle said.

The Defence Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Defence has not received any formal complaint from Wike over the incident but noted that he personally reached out to the FCT Minister after the video went viral.

“We have not received any formal complaint from Wike, but I called him after the video went viral and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly,” Matawalle concluded.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reiterated his respect for the Nigerian military, but stressed that the armed forces must operate within the law.

Wike, who said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, insisted that FCTA would not condone lawlessness by military officers, serving or retired.

According to him, no country will allow impurity and lawlessness, even among government officials, not to talk about private individuals.

His comments followed Tuesday’s confrontation with a naval officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, who denied him access to a disputed land, allegedly belonging to a retired Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo.

The minister urged Nigerians to learn to obey the law, adding that the FCT Administration would not tolerate any attempt to violate land use regulations or obstruct government officials performing their lawful duties.

He explained that his actions were guided strictly by law and not by sentiments or emotions.

Wike said that there were no documents to prove the military owned the land, adding that the alleged impunity and lawlessness would not be tolerated.

He attributed the controversy that followed the incident to people that were not happy with his style of handling land matters, particularly his political enemies.

He added that the issue was blown out of proportion by those bent on portraying him as being at loggerheads with the military.

He maintained that he only intervened after top officials of the FCTA were assaulted while carrying out their official duties.

“As a Minister, I won’t sit in my office while those working with me are being attacked.

“Yes, I have wounded some people politically and I have no regret about it. Yes, people are not happy over it.

“So when things happen like this, people will say all manner of things,” he said.

Wike, however, commended some leaders who contacted him to resolve the issues affecting them in the FCT, emphasising that due process must be followed.

He disclosed that the FCTA, had in the past, engaged the military hierarchy, including  a former head of state and president, on similar matters, adding that the issues were handled with mutual respect and understanding.

He recalled that when the Police had a similar issue, he personally visited the site where buildings were being constructed under a power line, and the Inspector-General of Police ensured the stoppage of the construction.

“A former president had the courtesy of calling me and said look, I have this problem. See how you can look into it.

“Another general will call you. Look at this and this. These are people; they are all retired generals. These are people with discipline.

“They didn’t bother because they were former chief of army staff or former presidents. They never sent soldiers, they never sent anybody to go and attack anybody,” Wike said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to developing the FCT in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of restoring order and sanity to the nation’s capital.

He promised that enforcement against illegal developments, land grabbing and violations of the Abuja Master Plan would continue without compromise.

He said the FCT Administration’s duty was to protect the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan and ensure that all developments conform with approved land use.

“As long as I remain FCT Minister, the law will take its course. Abuja must reflect the image of Nigeria – disciplined, planned and lawful,” Wike declared.

However, a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), has criticised the public reactions to the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, in Abuja.

The former defence chief described many of the commentaries on the incident as “misguided” and lacking an appreciation of what the uniform represents.

He stated this on Thursday while speaking at the National Dialogue on Media, Terrorism, and National Security, held during the 21st All Nigeria Editors’ Conference in Abuja.

Irabor said the uniform of military and security personnel symbolises the authority, dignity, and sovereignty of the Nigerian state, stressing that any act of disrespect towards those wearing it amounts to an insult to the country itself.

“The uniform is not about the individual wearing it; it represents the authority of the state. Whether it is a young officer or a senior one, when you make disparaging remarks or act against them, you are, in fact, insulting the state itself,” Irabor said.

Irabor faulted many of the public reactions, noting that commentators appeared to have “missed the real issue”, which, he explained, is the sanctity of the uniform as a representation of state power.

“Even as a General, I cannot slap my soldier. If I do, I will face disciplinary action. There are laid-down mechanisms for addressing misconduct, and that is what distinguishes a state governed by law from a jungle,” he said.

While acknowledging that the FCT Minister has constitutional authority over land administration, Irabor maintained that respect for uniformed personnel remains non-negotiable.

“If a person in uniform abuses his authority, he will be dealt with. But the uniform itself must be respected. That’s what sustains order in a civilised society,” he stated.

The retired general expressed concern over what he described as a decline in civic education and public understanding of national institutions, warning that the erosion of respect for symbols of authority could endanger Nigeria’s stability.

“We must not turn our country into a jungle where everyone takes the law into their own hands. Respect the uniform. Respect what it stands for,” he warned.

Irabor emphasised that maintaining respect for the uniform and those who wear it is essential to preserving law, order, and the credibility of state institutions in Nigeria.