- Safiu Kehinde
A tense drama has on Tuesday unfolded in Abuja as soldiers stopped the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the FCT Administration from gaining access to a land.
The moment captured in a now viral video saw Wike and his team, including his security aides, stopped by the soldiers deployed to the land.
Addressing the soldiers at the site owned by a yet-to-be-identified retired Admiral, Wike demanded the commander of the team to present the document of the land to him.
“Show me the document you have. You have no document.” Wike demanded.
The commander in charge however insisted that he has document.
“I have document and everything has been submitted.” The Commander replied to the Minister who maintained that he cannot be intimidated by the military personnel.
“Bring the document. Excuse me, I’m a Minister and you cannot tell me that. We cannot continue to have this impunity. We cannot continue this way. This country cannot continue along this line.
“How can that man at his level, even if he has a problem, he cannot reach me and say I’m sorry this is what I have.
“You sent soldiers to intimidate me. We are all from this country and this government. You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying gun to intimidate people not to do their work.
“Let me tell you. if not because of the Chief of Defense Staff who spoke to me now, you would have killed everybody here. No problem.
“I’m not one of those that you can intimidate. I’m doing my job.” Wike said.
The commander however refuted Wike’s claim as he recounted how the FCTA official had earlier intimidated workers on the site.
“On the contrary Sir, we are not intimidating anybody. Staff of FCTA came to intimidate people here and that was when the Admiral gave the order. Because the papers are complete and he has submitted them” He said.
“Are you the one that will say paper? First of all, show me that government gave you this place. Two, show me that you have an approval to build what you are building.
“I’m a Vice Admiral, I’m a Lieutenant General, that is not it! We must work in according to law.” Wike replied.
Clash would thereafter ensue after the Commander identified one of the FCTA officials who received the papers.
The official however denied the claim, leading to the altercation between the soldiers and Wike’s security aides.
More details later…