Wike Vs Lt Ahmed Yerima – By Frank Ofili

At about 3.38pm on Tuesday 11 November 2025, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, had an open confrontation with Naval officer Lt Ahmed Yerima.

The incident occurred at Plot 1946, Buffer Southern Parkway, Gaduwa District, Abuja FCT — a property linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retired).

Wike visited the site with FCT officials to inspect or enforce a stop-order because the land and development were claimed to be unauthorized and lacking proper documentation from the FCT administration.

On arrival, Naval officers (about 12 of them) blocked Wike’s access to the site, with a truck and other impediments, preventing FCT’s Department of Development Control from entering.

Wike demanded that the officer show “the document” justifying their presence. Wike said: “Show me the document … You have no document.”

The officer indicated he was acting on orders and had documents (or claimed so). Wike rejected that and accused the officer of acting with impunity because of his uniform.

At one point, Wike sternly told the officer: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”

The core issue here is illegal/unauthorized land development. Wike’s administration had issued a stop-work order for the plot because there were no valid approvals.

When FCT officials attempted to enforce the stop-order, they were allegedly cleared away by soldiers acting on orders, thus directly frustrating the enforcement. Wike objected strongly to the use of military force in this civil land-dispute context.

Wike’s argument is that no one — regardless of rank, uniform, or past office (even a former Chief of Naval Staff) is above the law. The enforcement of land development laws must apply equally.

The officer (or the team) claimed legitimacy through rank/orders/documentation, but Wike insisted those were insufficient if proper authority, approval and civil process were missing.

The confrontation reflects a tension between civil land-regulation (FCT Administration) and military/military-linked interests (naval officers/retired senior officer) which complicates enforcement.

Wike emphasized “You cannot use soldiers to intimidate government officials doing their job.”

The issue raises broader questions about land ownership, allocation, approval processes, and the role of powerful individuals using military/security assets for civil ends.

Importantly, Wike claimed he already engaged the Nigerian Navy and the Defence Headquarters to address the matter.

However, it is my opinion that Wike should not have rained personal insults on the young Naval Officer who was merely obeying orders from his superiors

It is true that the military is subject to civilian authority, but that authority in this case is not that of the person of Nyesom Wike. It is the civil authority of the FCT Administration. Wike should not have rained personal insults on the young Naval Officer.

If FCT Minister had issues with the property in question, I believe the right thing to do is to take it up with the Naval authorities, or the owner. Or better still, approach the court for an order stopping further development of the property until all relevant documents have been perfected. This is the responsible and honourable way to handle the situation instead engaging in a shouting match and unwittingly creating a situation that could have resulted in a mutiny. Wike should not have gotten himself personally and emotionally involved. A leader should exhibit the strictest standard of self-restraint and control, especially in public.

Wike had a good case, but he goofed.