The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant A. Yerima, as unnecessary and avoidable.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday in Abuja’s Gaduwa District, stemmed from a dispute over a parcel of land reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
A video circulating online showed an agitated Wike confronting armed naval personnel guarding the land.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said the matter should have been resolved through official channels, not a public altercation.
He disclosed that Wike had contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to await an investigation before taking action.
“What happened was unfortunate. The officer was following orders. Wike should have gone through the proper chain of command rather than exchanging words with him,” Matawalle stated.
The Defence Minister defended Lt. Yerima’s conduct, describing him as disciplined and professional. He stressed that the officer merely obeyed lawful instructions and committed no offence under military regulations.
“He acted within military rules and maintained respect throughout. Disobeying orders would have been a breach of discipline,” he added.
Matawalle also warned public officials against disrespecting uniformed officers, noting that such actions indirectly undermine the authority of the President, who serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“Anyone who disrespects a soldier disrespects the President. There is no justification for punishing the officer,” he said.
The minister clarified that his remarks were not a defence of indiscipline but a reminder of the importance of following established procedures. He revealed that despite advice from senior military officials, Wike went ahead to personally confront the naval officers.
“He was told an investigation would be conducted within a day, yet he still visited the site,” Matawalle noted.
According to him, the Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed land to commence a formal investigation into its ownership.
He emphasized that any revocation or administrative action should follow due process rather than confrontation.
“If the land has been revoked, there are proper diplomatic and administrative channels to follow,” he concluded.
Matawalle added that while the Ministry of Defence has not received a formal complaint from Wike, he personally reached out to the FCT Minister after the video went viral to advise restraint.
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