- Wike insists he never insulted the military personnel during the Abuja land dispute incident.
- The FCT Minister says the officer was only acting on an illegal order tied to the Gaduwa land controversy.
- Defence Minister Matawalle says the Wike–Yerima confrontation should have gone through official military channels.
- The disputed land is linked to ex–Naval Chief Awwal Gambo, sparking tension at the demolition site.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied calling a military personnel a fool during the tense land dispute incident that unfolded in Abuja earlier this week. Speaking at a press conference, he said the confrontation was blown out of proportion, and that his words were wrongly interpreted.
The clash happened on Tuesday at Plot 1946 in the Gaduwa District, where officials of the FCT Administration moved in to stop what they described as an unapproved construction. Their attempt to enforce a demolition order met resistance from armed naval personnel stationed at the site. The officers were reportedly acting under the authority of retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff whose name has been linked to the disputed property.
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Wike explained that he simply questioned the legality of the officer’s instructions, insisting he never directed an insult at the military.
“Some people claimed I called the boy a fool. What I meant was that you cannot carry out an illegal order. I didn’t say, ‘Military, you are a fool.’ I could never have said that,” he stated.
The minister added that those reporting distorted versions of the incident should verify facts instead of spreading misleading narratives. He maintained respect for the military, acknowledging their sacrifices in combating terrorism and insecurity nationwide.
However, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said the confrontation should never have happened in public. Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, he explained that Wike had already contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow internal military channels to handle the issue.
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According to Matawalle, Lieutenant Yerima acted strictly based on instructions and showed professionalism by avoiding escalation. He noted that Wike should have directed his concerns to the officer’s superiors rather than exchanging words on-site.
The situation has sparked intense debate on the boundaries of authority between civilian administration and military structures, especially in sensitive matters involving land and enforcement in the FCT.
