Wike refutes rift with Military over land, insists rule of law must prevail in Abuja
By Sunny Onyekwere, FCT-Abuja 12 November
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Thursday dismissed insinuations of using a disputed land issue in Abuja to fight the Nigerian military, reiterating his support for the armed forces and utmost respect for them.
While reacting to a viral video of his confrontation with a Naval officer during a recent enforcement exercise in Gaduwa, Abuja, Wike urged Nigerians to learn to obey the laws, adding that government will not tolerate any attempt to violate land use regulations or obstruct government officials performing their lawful duties.
He insisted that his actions have been guided strictly by law and not by sentiment or emotion.
He said: “You are told to obey legal orders, not orders that are illegal. So if, because you are a security aide, to say, your superior ordered you shoot at someone, you think you will not be charged for murder, because your superior gave you the order?
“People have problems. We have tried to resolve them, but don’t use intimidation, don’t try to weaken government. You cannot weaken government. Because when we allow this now, others will follow suit. And then they will say, when it happened to this and that, what did you do?
“So, gentlemen, I have respect for the military. I will continue to respect them. So anybody trying to bring collision there, to say, oh, he is having a problem with the military, it is not correct, I don’t have a problem with the military and I will not have a problem.
“If we are having a problem with military, I know where to run to. If I don’t to Chief of Defence Staff, I will go to Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of Naval Staff, or Air Force, or Chief of Defence Intelligence, I will go to the president.
“But in this case, it had to do with a private individual. So how many people would I run to? If you, you have a problem with us, I will run to president? Who does that? So all I will be telling the president every day, this individual is having a problem with us, this individual is having a problems. So I don’t have a problem with the military”, he said.
Wike, however, said the issue had been blown out of proportion by those bent on portraying him as being at loggerheads with the military.
He maintained that he only intervened after top officials of the FCTA were assaulted while carrying out their officials duties, saying that as a Minister, he won’t sit in his office while those working with him are being attacked.
He recalled that when the Police had similar issue, he personally visited the site where buildings were being constructed under the powerline, and the Inspector-General of Police ensured the stoppage of the construction.
He said the FCT Administration’s duty is to protect the integrity of Abuja’s master plan and ensure that all developments conform with approved land use provisions.
According to him, those who obtained land for agricultural purposes but later converted it to residential estates or commercial ventures without approval would be made to face the law.
“Government cannot function in a lawless society. If we allow one person to violate the rules because of who he is, others will follow. That is how impunity begins. We must learn to obey the law irrespective of who is involved”, he said.
The minister stressed that the FCTA had in the past engaged the military hierarchy on similar matters involving land ownership disputes, and that such engagements had always been handled with mutual respect and understanding.
Wike, who decried some media reports that suggested his comments or actions were targeted at security agencies, urged journalists to verify information and avoid sensationalism. “Report us accurately. Do investigative journalism. Don’t twist facts or take statements out of context.”
Recalling instances during his tenure as Rivers State governor when he personally intervened to prevent security operatives from violating citizens’ rights, the Minister said his current actions were consistent with his belief in lawful governance.
He however, reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s vision of restoring order and sanity to the nation’s capital, promising that enforcement against illegal developments, land grabbing and violations of the Abuja master plan would continue without compromise.
“As long as I remain FCT Minister, the law will take its course. Abuja must reflect the image of Nigeria – disciplined, planned and lawful”, Wike declared.
END
