TUESDAY’S confrontation in Gaduwa District between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and naval officers allegedly acting on the orders of former Navy Chief, Awwal Gambo, again highlights a clear misuse of power long after the end of military rule. Worse, it signals a gross misallocation of critical national resources.
This incident, which centred on an attempt to demolish an unapproved building on a disputed land parcel allegedly linked to Gambo, was aborted by military deployment to protect private interests rather than wider national interests for which the Armed Forces are dedicated.
As the FCT minister sought to enforce a demolition order against a structure without FCT Administration approval, naval officers, claiming superior orders, blocked him and his team.
The encounter quickly escalated into a tense standoff, captured in viral videos showing threats of military violence toward civilian officials, police officers, and DSS security details over a private property the minister insists has no valid approval or allocation papers.
This episode is profoundly incongruous in a democracy. Military discipline, while sacrosanct, must be subject to civilian authority.
This sordid spectacle reflects a troubling waste of military resources. Nigeria grapples with relentless security challenges, including Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, oil theft, and other violent crimes.
Yet, the military is being deployed to guard a contested private construction site within Nigeria’s capital, diverting troops from frontline security duties.
This borderline arrogance and abuse of power by serving and former military commanders, which veils private interests under the guise of uniformed authority, should not be tolerated.
The incident echoes that of January 2022, where police officers drafted from Abuja on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police defied the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to vacate a disputed parcel of land in the Magodo Phase 2 Estate.
The FCT minister wields significant constitutional powers over land allocation, use, and development within Abuja. The minister’s office is empowered to approve or revoke land rights and ensure compliance with urban planning regulations.
Lere Olayinka, Wike’s media aide, has since claimed that the former CNS was duped into buying land allocated for parks and recreation by a company that had subdivided the plot for onward sale to other buyers, even though its application to convert the land to commercial use was denied in 2022 before Wike came into office.
This and similar land disputes should ideally be resolved through administrative or judicial channels, not military standoffs.
Gambo should have approached the courts for a restraining order against the FCT minister or entered into negotiations instead of resorting to self-help, just because he can influence the military.
However, the altercation exposes shortcomings on Wike’s part. He should have secured a valid court order to carry out the demolition.
His approach appeared impulsive, proceeding with enforcement actions without allowing a reasonable window for amicable dialogue or legal contestation.
While he has demonstrably sanitised the land allocation system in the FCT and enforced payment of land charges by thousands of defaulters, deploying bulldozers should not be the first line of enforcement.
In a democracy, the proper route for resolving disputes is the courts, not forceful demolition, which can result in the breakdown of law and order.
Moreover, the speech and demeanour adopted by Wike during the confrontation have exposed him to public ridicule. His use of uncouth language on the naval officer is indecorous and belittles his office.
Every Nigerian deserves respect and civil conduct from public officials, despite the tensions at play. In contrast, the naval officer in charge, identified as A.M. Yerima, maintained composure and discipline under provocation.
The former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, framed the minister’s behaviour as a national security threat undermining the military chain of command and the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and demanded a public apology from Wike. This line was echoed by Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation.
However, this framing is incorrect and misleading. The main issue is not disrespect or security but an abuse of military power and a dangerous precedent of military interference in civilian land governance.
For democracy to deepen in Nigeria, military authority must be subordinate to civilian rule, but exercised transparently and lawfully. Land governance must follow due process, while arbitrary enforcement actions must be curtailed.
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