The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a Naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over a parcel of land in Abuja as unnecessary and avoidable.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle revealed that Wike had earlier reached out to both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff regarding the disputed land. He said the service chiefs advised Wike to allow the military to handle the matter internally, but the minister ignored their counsel and went to the site to personally confront the officers acting on official orders.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply following instructions. Wike should not have exchanged words with him but should have addressed his grievances through the officer’s superiors,” Matawalle said.
The minister noted that the officer’s conduct was professional and in line with military discipline, stating that he acted within the bounds of the law. “The young officer did not commit any offence. He obeyed a lawful order and behaved with respect and decorum,” he added.
Matawalle, a former Governor of Zamfara State, emphasized that public officials must show respect to members of the armed forces, warning that disrespecting uniformed personnel amounts to disrespecting the President, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“There is no basis for any punishment against the officer. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President. Wike should not have engaged him in an argument, especially considering the uniform he was wearing,” Matawalle stated.
