Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has criticised the public altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Ahmed Yerima, describing it as unnecessary and avoidable.
The clash, which occurred on Tuesday at a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, drew widespread attention after a video showed Wike angrily confronting the naval officer guarding the property.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said such matters should be handled through official channels rather than public confrontations, noting that Wike had earlier been advised by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff to allow a proper investigation before taking any action.
“What happened between Wike and the officer is unfortunate. The officer was simply obeying orders. The minister should have taken up his concerns through the officer’s superiors instead of exchanging words with him,” Matawalle stated.
He praised Yerima for his professional conduct, saying the officer acted lawfully and did not violate any military regulation. “The young officer carried out his duty with discipline and respect. There is no offence for which he should be charged,” he said.
Matawalle further warned that public officials must show respect for uniformed personnel, stressing that disrespecting military officers indirectly undermines the authority of the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He added that the Chief of Naval Staff has already visited the disputed site to begin an investigation into the ownership of the land, assuring that the matter will be resolved through due process.
“If the land has been revoked, there are proper administrative procedures to be followed,” he said, revealing that while the Ministry of Defence has not received a formal complaint from Wike, he personally reached out to advise the FCT Minister to handle such issues through formal channels in the future.
