By Chucks Emeka
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has weighed in on the viral confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer over a disputed land in Abuja, describing the officer’s conduct as “horrible” and “representing evil.”
In a post shared on his social media page on Tuesday, Igbokwe defended Wike’s actions during the exchange, arguing that the incident reflected a deeper crisis of corruption and entitlement within the nation’s capital.
“What this small boy displayed today has a million meanings. What frightens me is the reactions here. Who sent the small boy on this horrible mission? I am running away with the thinking that those lands were stolen. Take him out of the military asap. He represents evil,” Igbokwe wrote.
He accused certain powerful interests of resisting Wike’s ongoing reforms in the FCT, alleging that some elites had profited from illegal land allocations.
“I bet you some people who stole Nigeria to bones in Abuja will not like Wike. Shameless land grabbers who see Abuja as their father’s property will not like him,” he added.
The APC stalwart also noted that Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister marked a departure from historical patterns of northern dominance in the ministry.
“No Southerner has been FCT minister since 1990 when the capital was moved to Abuja. For more than 30 years, that position has always come from the North. In 2023, Wike became FCT minister and hell was let loose,” he said.
Igbokwe further called for a full-scale investigation into the ownership of the disputed Gaduwa land and the officer’s involvement.
“Who owns the land in question? Why didn’t he come to confront Wike himself? Was the land acquired through due process? Let the owner come forward,” he demanded.
The confrontation between Wike and the naval officer has stirred nationwide debate, drawing reactions from political figures, security analysts, and citizens alike.
Wike, in his reaction, said he would not bow to intimidation or blackmail, insisting that illegal land acquisitions in the FCT would be reversed.
Public affairs commentator, Adedamola Adetayo, known online as #BalogunKakanfo1, described the incident as a grave national security concern and “an equivalent of a coup d’état.”
“The minister represents the Nigerian people and acts as an agent of the President and Commander-in-Chief. The recklessness of the incident lies in an ex-Naval chief giving orders to undermine the authority of the Commander-in-Chief’s representative. It is a serious national security threat,” he said in a post on X.
Adetayo argued that Nigeria’s tolerance for indiscipline and insubordination was a lingering effect of its long history of military rule.
“We have become so used to lawlessness, disorder, and corruption that we no longer recognise what should be normal,” he stated.
He also criticised the widespread deployment of soldiers for non-combat duties, noting that it often led to public intimidation.
“It is not normal to have soldiers prowling the streets, intimidating citizens. We must address this urgently,” he added.
The face-off between Wike and the naval officer at the Gaduwa District remains one of the most talked-about political incidents of the week, reflecting the growing tension between civil authorities and security institutions over land administration in the FCT.
