A naval officer involved in a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over access to a plot of land in Abuja acted properly, according to Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday, Amadi said the Minister does not have the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and cannot override orders given to military personnel carrying out official duties.
The clash occurred on Tuesday when Wike, accompanied by officials of the FCT Authority (FCTA), attempted to gain access to the land, resulting in a standoff with soldiers assigned to the location.
Amadi emphasized that officers on lawful assignments are entitled to state protection. He criticized Wike’s approach, describing it as unnecessary for the Minister to bring additional personnel to remove the soldiers. “Once the operation was completed, proper protocol would have required reporting to the Inspector-General of Police, who is responsible for enforcing the law in Nigeria,” he added.
“The officer acted in line with standard military procedure. He was authorized to secure the location, and the Minister cannot override instructions given to him,” Amadi stated.
The remarks underscore the principle that military personnel performing lawful duties are protected by protocol and cannot be interfered with by civilian authorities, even high-ranking government officials.