“YOUR ARE A FOOL”: Drama as Tinubu’s Minister, Nyesom Wike, in heated altercations with military officers over land

*”I am not a fool, I’m a naval officer”, he was replied

*You are defending illegal structure – Wike

*This is not illegal structure – Commanding Officer

*Lauretta Onochie reacts

*How Wike could have caused heavy fight between military, police and DSS – Respondent 

*Media guru expects national award for young officer for standing for institution 

By KEMI KASUMU and OUR REPORTER, Abuja

The commanding officer — identified as Naval Air Vice Marshal Yerima — politely told Wike that he was working under instructions but Wike, a civilian and lawyer, openly bullied to force him against the constitutional military discipline his loyal is attached to, which could pose serious threat to national security.

In what appears to be sign of national resentment against overzealous public servant on seat of power, a young officer of the Nigerian Navy – on Tuesday November 11, 2025 – chose to stand with institution against personality in matter of national interest when the controversial Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tried but fruitlessly to bully and force him, a military officer, into surrendering to his conflicting orders.

It was a dramatic confrontation that unfolded on the said day in Abuja’s Gaduwa District as armed military officers, allegedly acting on the instructions of retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, resisted efforts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to halt what the minister called unapproved development on a parcel of land in the area.

The incident occurred when officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) arrived at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa to enforce a demolition order on what authorities described as an illegal structure.

The operation, however, met stiff resistance from uniformed personnel stationed at the site.

Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo, served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

His name reportedly surfaced as the alleged owner or beneficiary of the property.

Tensions heightened when Wike, accompanied by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, and other senior officials, arrived at the location but was initially denied access by the armed personnel.

Forcing his way into the property, Wike openly engaged the officer, saying, “You are a fool!” and at each instance got his reply as the officer said,  “I am not a fool sir, I am a Navy officer. I working under instructions.”

The commanding officer — identified as Naval Air Vice Marshal Yerima — told Wike that he was working under instructions but Wike, a civilian and lawyer, openly bullied to force him against the constitutional military discipline his loyal is attached to, which could pose serious threat to national security.

Visibly angered by the defiance, Wike described the development as a clear case of “land grabbing,” vowing that the administration would not succumb to intimidation by any group, no matter how powerful.

“Despite the military intimidation, I will not succumb or allow this land grabbing. It’s an illegality that must not stand,” he declared.

The minister accused the developers of erecting structures on government land without approval or title documents, insisting that due process must be followed in all land transactions within the territory.

In his defence, the commanding naval officer maintained that his team was acting under superior instructions, claiming that the documents related to the land had been duly submitted to the relevant authorities for verification.

“This is not an illegal development,” he asserted. “I have forwarded all the documents to the officials in charge.”

The tense standoff underscores the renewed crackdown by the Wike-led FCT Administration on illegal developments and encroachments across the capital city, a campaign that has often pitched the minister against powerful interests and institutions.

This, however, goes contrary to views of other watchers of event who believe that what Wike is doing in Abuja is not governance but playing politics. His alleged penchant for seizing or demolishing assets identified to be of opposition personalities has been pointed out and appears like a snag that will remain, not only with Wike but also Tinubu government for a longer time.

Among instances shown was how, under claims of owing land rent, he sealed off the national secretariat of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the very day a vital party meeting he has allegedly vowed he would not to hold was to be held.

Perhaps in effort to make what he did to PDP look apolitical, he also sealed off the headquarters of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on equal allegation of owing land rent but met resistance as evidence from the Service showed that Wike acted in error.

To now personally lead a front to break into a land secured military officers because the land is owned by recent Chief of Naval Staff under the Muhammadu Buhari administration his principal, Tinubu, succeeded, has heightened the ill-feelings that Wike has caused against the government he serves, it was gathered.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL VIDEO OF WIKE’S ALTERCATIONS

Lauretta Onochie, others react

In the meantime, Special Assistant on Digital and Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari during the time Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo served, Lauretta Onochie, has described the ability of the naval officer to be respectful while rejecting being bullied by Wike on Tuesday as commendable.

“Even in the face of intimidation and bullying, this officer and a gentleman, was polite in all his responses. He is a role model for all Nigerian youth,” said Lauretta Onochie.

Other Nigerians, who have reacted, are saying Wike saying that “whether you are admirer or lieutenant general means nothing” was too much a disrespect for the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“People have been heavily invested in and well trained by Nigeria and have fought hard to keep this country together as military officers, only for a civilian who does not know the tradition of the military to come and bully them to succumb? Haba! Wike went too far.

“Before you asked me now, I have watched the video. I saw how a police officer accompanying Wike tongue-lashed the military officer but the officer told him back that ‘You are my junior, I cannot be talking and you are talking. How? I will be talking and policemen will be talking’.

“I also saw how a gun carrying DSS personnel pushed one of the soldiers on the chest but his commander ordered him the soldier to restrain. When the Wike did not caution themselves, the soldier returned with fool force and descended on the DSS personnel and his gun but the naval officer was in full control of his soldiers who obey at every issue of his orders.

“I then heard Wike saying ‘If not because of the Chief of Defence Staff that talked me just now, you could have everyone if us here.’ But then I also heard the Navy officer replying him, ‘Sir we will not kill anybody.’

“Let me be sincere with you, that thing Wike w not to do there was capable of causing a big problem for the country. So you want the retired vice admirer, who said he has documents, to come and do cap-in-hand before you in your house or where before you can believe him? That was how he could have caused fight between the armed forces, police and DSS. To me that is corruption, if corruption means use of constitutional power to advance personal arrogance,” the respondent said.

…That officer deserves national award – Media Guru

In a reaction posted on broadcasting media guru, Rufai Oseni, it was said:

“That officer deserves a national award. Calm, firm, and collected while Wike was busy behaving like a TikTok skit maker.

‘Wike called him a fool, and the soldier simply replied, “I’m not a fool, sir. I have integrity.”
That line alone finished the argument. You could almost hear sense leaving Wike’s body.

“When wisdom failed, Wike switched to the big man script: “You were in primary school when I graduated.”

“That’s their emergency line when logic no longer works. The same playbook Umahi used on Rufai Oseni.

“Age has become their last remaining certificate.
The man stood tall, kept his men in order, and showed what real discipline looks like.
In that moment, Wike went low and the officer went high. Power met principle. One was shouting “Do you know who I am?” The other was quietly showing who he truly is. AAA”