Wike, Soldiers, FCT Officials Clash Over Land in Abuja
Tensions flared on Tuesday in Abuja’s Gaduwa district as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his entourage were prevented from accessing a parcel of land by soldiers stationed at the site.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot threaten a minister like this,” one of Wike’s aides told the armed soldiers, as the minister attempted to gain entry.
Wike, visibly displeased, questioned the military officers’ actions, stressing that no one is above the law. He raised concerns over the land’s development, alleging that proper procedures were not followed.
“You have no documents,” the FCT minister asserted, but the soldiers stood their ground, insisting they were acting on orders. Wike responded firmly: “You cannot act with impunity. No one should carry a gun to intimidate others. I am not someone who can be intimidated.”
After a tense standoff, Wike accused the military personnel of overstepping their authority. He emphasized that the FCT Administration has no record of any legal allocation of the land to the officers and vowed to ensure such actions do not go unchecked.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Wike remarked. “I don’t understand how a former Chief of Staff, seeing there is an issue, cannot approach my office to resolve it, and instead, use military influence to intimidate citizens. I will not succumb to blackmail.”
Despite the minister’s warnings, the soldiers maintained their position, stating that they were acting under directives from former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo.
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