…insists retired naval officer is a private citizen, defends lawful action
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified the circumstances surrounding his recent confrontation with military personnel at a disputed plot in Abuja, emphasising that he could not have formally written to the Nigerian military since the developer, retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, is now a private citizen.
Speaking on the incident, Wike said he could not remain passive while government officials were allegedly harassed and intimidated by armed soldiers stationed at the site.
He described the situation as “unfortunate,” stressing that the laws governing the Federal Capital Territory must be respected by all, regardless of status or previous positions.
The Minister recalled that several prominent military figures, including former Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo and former Chief of Army Staff General Theophilus Danjuma, had previously contacted him to resolve land-related disputes lawfully.
Wike also responded to comments attributed to former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), who characterised the confrontation as a threat to national security.
The Minister accused Buratai of hypocrisy, alleging that the former army chief once directed a General Officer Commanding to rig his re-election and attempt to have him killed during the 2019 elections. “Buratai cannot lecture me on decency,” Wike said.
He maintained that he has no regrets about confronting political opponents and insisted that tactics based on ethnicity, religion, or other divisive strategies would not work against him.
