By Benjamin Christian
Tension erupted in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers reportedly prevented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from accessing a parcel of land in the Gaduwa district.
Wike, who arrived at the site with officials of the Federal Capital Territory Development Administration (FCDA), was stopped at the gate by armed soldiers stationed at the property.
Visibly angered by the development, the minister confronted the officers, questioning why the property was being guarded by soldiers allegedly because it was linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike asked.
The officer on duty, however, defended his position, insisting that the land was legally acquired.
“I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he replied.
“Shut up,” Wike fired back, but the officer retorted, “I will not shut up.”The confrontation escalated as the minister berated the soldiers for attempting to obstruct government work.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that can be intimidated,” Wike said.
Security personnel in Wike’s convoy reportedly attempted to intervene, but the soldiers maintained their stance, saying they were acting on “orders from above.”
Wike accused the former naval officer of using his influence to intimidate authorities and vowed that due process would be followed.
“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position cannot approach my office to say, ‘This is what’s going on,’ but rather uses the military to intimidate Nigerians,” he stated.
The standoff underscores rising tensions between the FCT Administration and some individuals allegedly occupying disputed government lands in the territory.
