A Naval officer leading other personnel of the Nigerian Navy earlier on Tuesday, November 11 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has told FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that he was not a fool but a “commissioned officer.”
The FCT minister was denied access to the contentious Plot 1946, said to belong to former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd), but designated as a buffer by the Development and Control Department of FCT Administration. FCTA officers were earlier denied access to the land by soldiers who were guiding the site, which attracted Wike’s attention. The face-off was captured on video, which has gone viral online.
“Show me the document you have. You have no document,” the minister was heard in the footage telling the officer who appeared to be leading the troops.
The minister, visibly angry, accused the officers of obstructing lawful government activity and of using their uniforms to shield illegal structures.
“You cannot use soldiers to intimidate government officials doing their job. This country cannot continue this way,” Mr. Wike went on, adding: “Even if you are a lieutenant general or vice admiral, it means nothing. The government must function according to law.”
The minister also alleged that the officers’ actions could have endangered lives.
“If not for the Chief of Defence Staff who just spoke to me, you could have killed everybody here,” he said, suggesting that he and his entourage would have defied the soldiers, who could have resorted to violence.
In the ensuing drama, which became charged, Mr Wike told the officer, who said he had integrity, “Shut up your mouth! Who does that? Will you get out? When I was in school, you had not even resumed school. Will you keep quiet? You are a big fool!”
“I am not a fool, sir. I am acting on instructions, and I am a commissioned officer,” the officer replied.
