Wike Denies Insulting Officer, Says Abuja Land Showdown Was About ‘Illegal Orders’
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expanded on the circumstances surrounding his heated confrontation with a naval officer at a disputed land in Abuja, insisting that the entire incident has been misrepresented and blown out of context.
The confrontation, which occurred on Tuesday at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, unfolded when officials of the FCT Administration moved to enforce a demolition order on what authorities described as an illegal construction.
The structure, according to FCTA development control officials, violated extant Abuja Master Plan guidelines and had been marked earlier for removal.
However, upon arrival, the demolition team was met by armed naval personnel allegedly acting under the instructions of retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, who reportedly has interest in the land.
The officers blocked the FCTA task force from entering the site, leading to a tense exchange that was captured on camera and went viral within hours.
Narrating the sequence of events during a press briefing on Wednesday, Wike said his words were maliciously twisted by commentators and bloggers who rushed to frame the encounter as a verbal attack on the military.
“People are saying I called the officer a fool. I never said that,” Wike clarified. “What I said was that no one should carry out an illegal order. I could not have insulted the Military. They play a critical role in securing this Country, and I will never undermine them.”
Wike stressed that he only insisted that the officers vacate the site so that due process could be carried out, adding that Abuja cannot function under “the rule of personal influence” where powerful individuals compel security operatives to obstruct lawful government actions.
He also revealed that it was not the first time FCTA officials had faced interference from security personnel allegedly protecting private interests during enforcement operations.
“We cannot build a city where people do whatever they like because they know someone in uniform,” he said. “Demolition in Abuja is not personal—it is about restoring sanity.”
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, reacting through an interview with DCL Hausa, said the confrontation could have been avoided entirely had the minister and the naval hierarchy followed established communication channels.
According to him, Wike had already contacted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla Abbas, who initially advised him to allow an internal military investigation before taking action.
“What happened was unfortunate because the officer was acting strictly on orders,” Matawalle said. “Wike should have addressed the matter through the officer’s superiors. The Naval Officer displayed discipline by avoiding escalation.”
Sources within the Defence Headquarters also confirmed that the Military is reviewing the chain of command instructions that led to the Officer’s presence at the site, noting that no punishment will be issued until the inquiry is concluded.
The Gaduwa land matter has now reignited concerns about abuse of security privileges, the influence of retired senior officers in land deals, and recurring clashes between FCTA enforcement teams and those allegedly protected by uniformed personnel.
