₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has thrown his weight behind Lieutenant Yerima, the naval officer who reportedly confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The altercation was over a parcel of land allegedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).

Speaking on the incident, the minister, Badaru praised Yerima’s conduct, describing him as a disciplined officer who acted in line with his duties.

“We will always protect our officer, he has done well. We won't allow anything happen to him,” the minister stated.

“So we are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly.

“So we will not allow anything to happen to him so far he is doing his job, and he is doing his job greatly well,” he said, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

The confrontation reportedly occurred when FCT officials attempted to take control of the land on Tuesday in Abuja.

SaharaReporters previously reported that a tense confrontation broke out in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers stopped the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from gaining access to an estate land in the FCT.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the soldiers on guard duty at the disputed site blocked the minister’s convoy, leading to a heated verbal exchange between Wike and one of the officers.

Visibly angry, Wike accused the soldier of obstructing government officials from performing their duties, while the soldier insisted he was acting under lawful orders.
In the video, Wike yelled, “Because you’re an officer, nobody does that (nobody acquires land illegally).”

Soldier: “Sir, we did not carry any land.”
Wike: “The man took this and we will not allow that just because he is the Chief of Army Staff.”

The confrontation escalated when the soldier defended his conduct, stating that all actions taken on the land were legitimate.
Soldier: “Sir, everything was acquired legally. Sir, you get the point.”
Wike: “Will you stop that?”
Soldier: “Sir, I’m an officer, I have integrity.”
Wike: “Shut up!”
Soldier: “Sir, I will not shut up. Sir, I won’t shut up. Sir, you can’t shut me up.”
The visibly enraged minister then called the soldier “a big fool,” but the officer stood his ground.
Wike: “You’re a big fool.”
Soldier: “I’m not a fool, sir. I am acting on an order.”
The soldier’s defiance shocked onlookers as both sides refused to back down, creating a tense standoff that drew attention from nearby residents and FCTA officials.

The altercation is the latest in a series of confrontations linked to land ownership disputes and demolition exercises in the Federal Capital Territory under Wike’s leadership.

Racoon:
You expect Hausa-Fulani to throw their own under the bus? Nyesom Wike ego has been bruised. This incident would forever remind him of such.

Hedonisco:
This is simply a tribal matter. Imagine for one second that it was a Southern Christian soldier that stood up like that to a Fulani Muslim Minister of FCT. Just objectively imagine such a scenario. It would never even happen because such a Southern soldier would dare not. Even if he does, the reaction or outcome would be very different from what we are seeing now.

Hedonisco:
This is simply a tribal matter. Imagine for one second that it was a Southern Christian soldier that stood up like that to a Fulani Muslim Minister of FCT. Just objectively imagine such a scenario. It would never even happen because such a Southern soldier would dare not. Even if he does, the reaction or outcome would be very different from what we are seeing now.

Hedonisco:
This is simply a tribal matter. Imagine for one second that it was a Southern Christian soldier that stood up like that to a Fulani Muslim Minister of FCT. Just objectively imagine such a scenario. It would never even happen because such a Southern soldier would dare not. Even if he does, the reaction or outcome would be very different from what we are seeing now.

runningriot:
Look at how pride has make Wike to make caricature of himself. He is so obsessed with power that now he is a national monument of mockery. The bitter truth is that absolutely nothing will happen to the said officer as a matter of fact he has been seen to be a priceless national hero and as it stands Tinubu will not truncate his second tenure because of Wike's tantrum anything of any kind that will happen to this strong and fearless veteran will spark out aggressive national discuss so he should thread with caution and bow down to absolute power corrupts absolutely! By Lord Acton.

fergie001:
Alterneteid, any other comments?

The matter is closed

SixSeven:
Wike cup go soon full. He has many enemies than friends and your enemies are not going to waste time to plot your downfall. Even if he is the MVP of the President, you will soon understand how cabal was once powerful than the Presidency. "Who is the Presidency?"

runningriot:
Look at how pride has make Wike to make caricature of himself. He is so obsessed with power that now he is a national monument of mockery. The bitter truth is that absolutely nothing will happen to the said officer as a matter of fact he has been seen to be a priceless national hero and as it stands Tinubu will not truncate his second tenure because of Wike's tantrum anything of any kind that will happen to this strong and fearless veteran will spark out aggressive national discuss so he should thread with caution and bow down to absolute power corrupts absolutely! By Lord Acton.

Hedonisco:
This is simply a tribal matter. Imagine for one second that it was a Southern Christian soldier that stood up like that to a Fulani Muslim Minister of FCT. Just objectively imagine such a scenario. It would never even happen because such a Southern soldier would dare not. Even if he does, the reaction or outcome would be very different from what we are seeing now.