Human rights activist and the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some military personnel who barred him from accessing a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
It was earlier reported that in a viral video of the incident on Tuesday, Wike was seen expressing outrage at the officer’s presence, insisting that no individual, regardless of their military affiliation, was above the law.
The land in question is reportedly owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.), and the incident sparked public debate after a video showing the minister’s confrontation with the military personnel surfaced online.
Reacting to the development in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Sowore criticised the military authorities, describing the situation as a reflection of misplaced priorities and entrenched self-interest among public officials.
He wrote, “The military’s primary responsibility is to safeguard the country’s borders, but instead, it is devoting resources to protect a parcel of land for a high-ranking officer, allegedly acting on ‘orders.’
“This pathetic scenario is the pervasive self-interest among officials who cater to the interests of a privileged minority at the expense of national protection, with @GovWike not being an exception.”
Sowore further recalled a similar episode during Wike’s tenure as governor of Rivers State, accusing him of interfering with law enforcement operations.
He stated, “As governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike @GovWike, too, once stood in the way of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission @officialEFCC officers, gun blazing, stopping them from arresting a corrupt judge friend of his. What a country!”
The activist’s comments have drawn reactions on social media, with some users supporting his criticism of political impunity, while others faulted his tone, arguing that the matter between the FCT minister and the military should be investigated further.
Tesday’s confrontation comes weeks after the FCTA demolished 11 duplexes belonging to the Nigeria Police Force in Apo District for being built under high-tension power lines.
Wike also reiterated that the FCTA’s Department of Development Control had denied approval for the contested land, vowing to escalate the matter to the appropriate authorities.
The Navy has yet to react or issue an official statement on the incident. When contacted for a response, the Navy spokesman, A. Adams-Aliyu, simply said: “No reply for now.”
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