Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and an officer of the Nigerian Navy, A.M Yarima, as a national embarrassment.
Naija News recalls that a heated confrontation broke out on Tuesday in Abuja after soldiers prevented Wike and his entourage from accessing a parcel of land in the Gaduwa district.
The altercation began when armed soldiers stopped the former Rivers State governor from entering the site, prompting one of the officials accompanying him to protest.
Speaking to newsmen at the site, Wike accused former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, of using soldiers to intimidate civilians over the development of a land for which he has no title document.
The Minister insisted that Gambo is carrying out an illegal development as he has no document that shows approval.
He accused the former Chief of Naval Staff of attempting to intimidate people with soldiers, but Wike insisted that he couldn’t be intimidated and he would not allow the illegal development of the land to continue.
In his reaction on Wednesday, Obi described the altercation as needless.
The former Governor of Anambra State said beyond the personalities involved in the dispute, the incident raises certain questions about happenings in Nigeria, including the role of the military in civil matters and the manner of intervention by the Minister.
Obi observed that when public officials act beyond institutional norms, and when security agencies are used in ways that blur their professional boundaries, such actions weaken both governance and public trust.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to build institutions that follow due process and replace the culture of impunity with the discipline of law and order, irrespective of the status of those involved.
“The recent needless altercation between the FCT Minister, HE, Barr. Nyesom Wike and a Naval officer are yet another unfortunate reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country. What should ordinarily be a routine civic encounter has, once again, become a national embarrassment— a typical example coming out of a ‘disgraced country’
“Beyond the personalities involved, this incident raises fundamental questions that demand honest national reflection:
“Should the military be used for purely civil operations? If proper protocols were in place, should a Minister’s intervention in such a matter be in such an indecorous manner?
“Shouldn’t there be clear boundaries between administrative authority and the duties of security agencies?
“What does this say about our respect for institutions and the separation of powers? Why are our men and women in uniform so often drawn into civilian disputes?
“Why has the culture of due process and civility given way to public spectacle and confrontation? If our institutions worked as they should, would tempers flare in situations that should be handled by clear procedure and hierarchy? Above all, what example do incidents like this set for our younger generation about leadership, discipline, and the rule of law?
“These are not just questions about one incident – they go to the very heart of how our nation is governed. When public officials act beyond institutional norms, and when security agencies are used in ways that blur their professional boundaries, we weaken both governance and public trust.
“We must learn from this episode. It is time to rebuild a nation where institutions are stronger than individuals; where public office is exercised with humility and restraint; where the dignity of our uniformed officers and the rights of every citizen are upheld.
“A country that aspires to greatness and feels insulted when referred to as a disgraced nation must replace the culture of impunity with the discipline of law, order, and respect for due process.
“Repeatedly, I have maintained that to occupy an office and be referred to as His Excellency, Distinguished or Honourable, how we get to such an office and our character and behaviour while holding it or out of it should reflect such exemplary titles in all ramifications,” Obi wrote.
