“You Are a Fool”: Wike Clashes with Soldiers in Heated Land Dispute

“You Are a Fool”: Wike Clashes with Soldiers in Heated Land Dispute

A dramatic clash erupted on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and armed soldiers over access to a contested parcel of land in Abuja.

The incident, captured in a video circulating on social media, shows the minister engaged in a heated argument with military personnel.

The confrontation began when FCT Authority (FCTA) officials were reportedly blocked by soldiers from accessing the property.

In the video, Minister Wike is seen confronting the soldiers, demanding they stand down and asserting that they lacked proper documentation for the land. One soldier responded that he was merely following orders.

The exchange quickly escalated, with Wike unleashing a tirade against the officers. “Shut up, keep quiet, you are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school,” the minister raged.

He further challenged the military’s presence, stating, “You send soldiers to intimidate who? We are all from this country. If not for the CDS who spoke to me now, you would have to kill everybody here.”

Concluding his remarks, Wike boldly asserted, “I’m not one of those that you can intimidate.”

Providing context for the incident, the minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, posted a detailed account on his official Facebook page. He alleged that the confrontation was triggered by a former Chief of Naval Staff.

Olayinka wrote, “Because he was told to stop building on a land he has no title document and building approval, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, sent his armed military security details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control.”

He further stated, “He also stationed armed military men to protect the illegal development, with the military men threatening to shoot anyone who interfered with them.”

Confirming the minister’s personal involvement, Olayinka added, “Today, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, visited the site after talking to the Chief of Defence Staff on the phone.”