FCT, Abuja – Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, has insinuated that Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), lacked patience, which caused his fiery clash with Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima on Tuesday, November 13.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, monitored Matawalle claimed that before storming the contested land, Wike phoned General Olufemi Oluyede, the chief of defence staff (CDS), who advised him against going to the site.
Bello Matawalle discusses Nyesom Wike’s confrontation with a military officer, highlighting the FCT minister’s alleged defiance of the chief of defence staff.
Defence Minister Matawalle shares details of Wike’s clash with a military officer and his alleged defiance of the chief of defence staff.
“The minister should understand that every officer has superiors. I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation. However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation.”
The former Zamfara governor disclosed that Wike ignored the advice and proceeded to confront the officers on-site.
Furthermore, Matawalle confirmed that the chief of naval staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, has since visited the disputed site to begin a formal investigation into the ownership of the land.
FCT minister Nyesom Wike clashes with Nigerian Navy officers over land in Abuja.
Controversy widens over Nyesom Wike and Lt. Ahmad Yerima’s clash on Abuja land.
Recalls that on Tuesday, November 11, military officers acting on the instructions of former chief of naval staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retired) resisted efforts by Wike to halt development of a property on Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District l, Abuja.
The incident started when the officers stationed at the site stopped the FCT Administration officials sent to effect a quit notice. Vice Admiral Gambo is laying claim to the land, which his allies insist was acquired legally.
Despite Wike’s relentless efforts, the FCT minister could not access the site on Tuesday, November 11.
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Earlier, reported that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, described the altercation between Wike and Lt. Yerima as a “national embarrassment”.
Obi stated that the confrontation, which has since gone viral, was “yet another unfortunate reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country.”
The ex-Anambra state governor questioned the growing trend of using military personnel for civil operations and the frequent intrusion of political officeholders into matters that should be handled by defined protocols.
