See Video As Wike Denies Calling Nigerian Military A Fool

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has said that he “wouldn’t have called a military personnel a fool”.

Wike said this at a press conference, following his recent altercation with a naval officer, Lieutenant A. Yerima, over an alleged land dispute in Abuja.

Recall that the dramatic confrontation unfolded on Tuesday in Abuja’s Gaduwa District as armed military officers, allegedly acting on the instructions of retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, resisted efforts by Wike to halt an unapproved development on a disputed parcel of land.

The incident occurred when officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) arrived at Plot 1946 in Gaduwa to enforce a demolition order on what authorities described as an illegal structure.

The operation, however, met stiff resistance from uniformed personnel stationed at the site. Former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Gambo, served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Gambo’s name had reportedly surfaced as the alleged owner or beneficiary of the controversial property.

Reacting to the incident at a press conference, Wike said he was simply misinterpreted, as he “wouldn’t have called a military personnel a fool”.

“Some people said I said the boy is a fool. What I meant is you cannot carry out an illegal order.

That is what I meant. I didn’t say, ‘Military, you are a fool.’ I couldn’t have said that,” he clarified.

“Those who are writing different stories, go and find out what really happened, and carry out your investigative journalism very well.

What I meant was that the soldiers were carrying out an illegal order.

“I know the role of the military, the role they are playing in this country, that they have passed through fighting insurgents and terrorists, and I have always given my support to security agencies.”

See video below