Retired members of the armed forces of Nigeria, under the aegis of the coalition of concerned military veterans, have called on president Bola Tinubu to sack the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent clash with a naval officer in Abuja.
The coalition, made up of retired generals and other senior military officers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, said the minister’s conduct was demeaning, unacceptable, and a direct insult to the armed forces and the commander-in-chief.
The face-off between Wike and the naval officer stemmed from a dispute over the ownership of a parcel of land being secured by armed military personnel led by Yerima, acting on the directive of a former chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
Wike had accused the ex-CNS of illegally taking over the land, and a video widely circulated online showed the visibly angry minister confronting the officer.
The veterans warned that if president Tinubu fails to take action, they would “mobilize and occupy” the FCT ministry until Wike is removed.
Speaking in Kaduna, on Friday, November 14, a member of the Coalition’s Board of Trustees, Col. Yusuf Ibrahim (retd.), said the video in which Wike referred to a naval officer as “a fool” was embarrassing and beneath the dignity of his office.
He argued that the officer was acting under lawful instructions and that insulting him amounted to belittling state authority.
“Not everyone is worthy of certain offices they occupy. We are shocked that a public office holder could call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera. If Wike was responsible, shouldn’t he have engaged the chief of naval staff privately rather than trying to disgrace a very senior retired general? Who the hell is Wike?
“Why should a law enforcement officer who represents the President and the sovereignty of the state be embarrassed the way the minister did? Insulting a commissioned officer is as good as insulting the President.”
Ibrahim insisted that Wike must apologize to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the young officer involved, and president Tinubu.
The veterans, however, commended the minister of defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; the minister of state for defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle; the chief of defence staff; and the Service Chiefs for their professional handling of the matter.
Another speaker at the briefing, Dr. Awwal Abdullahi, who introduced himself as a Deputy veteran commander, accused Wike of having a pattern of hostility towards military personnel.
He said the coalition would not hesitate to take to the streets if the president fails to act.
“If the President refuses to sack Wike, we will mobilize and occupy the ministry of FCT until he is removed,” Abdullahi said, adding that the gathering represented the entire retired military community.
According to him, Wike has a long-standing attitude of insulting whoever he wants at any given time, particularly military personnel. He argued that the minister’s actions were undermining both the srmed forces and the president’s political image.
“This house represents all the military veterans in Nigeria. We completely disagree with what Minister Wike did to a brilliant young officer who was working on specific instructions and carrying out his duties diligently, respectfully, and professionally.
“In the past, he has revoked properties belonging to the Armed Forces as if he hates the military and its personnel. He has demolished structures belonging to serving and retired officers, army, naval, and air force personnel, and even the air force as an institution.
“He did not just disrespect the officer; he disrespected resident Tinubu, who appointed him in good faith.”
Abdullahi stressed that the loyalty of the armed torces to president Tinubu is 100 per cent, adding that Wike’s actions were tarnishing the President’s long-standing political goodwill.
“Wike is busy making enemies, and these enemies are somehow affecting the president. Tinubu built his political career on friendship, mutual respect, and professionalism. Wike is diminishing that structure. The president should not allow one individual to destroy what he has built over many years.
“Ninety-nine point nine per cent loyalty is not loyalty. We don’t think Wike is as loyal to the president as the Armed Forces are,” he said.
He argued that removing Wike would not harm the administration, noting that there are many capable people who can serve as FCT minister with dignity, respect, and political maturity.
“If you remove Nyesom Wike as FCT minister, heaven will not fall. There are more capable hands who will represent the president better,” he declared.
He added that whoever occupies the FCT ministerial seat must demonstrate maturity and responsibility.
“That office represents Nigeria. Whoever holds it must be upright, humane, administratively capable, and politically open to all sectors of society. The FCT is the heart of Nigeria, and the minister must represent the nation, not fight it,” he added.
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