• Soldiers blocked FCT minister Nyesom Wike from accessing a Gaduwa land despite his insistence on entry
• Wike confronted soldiers in a heated exchange and vowed not to be intimidated by military personnel
• Video of the standoff between Wike and soldiers went viral, sparking widespread reactions online

There was a tense standoff in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11 when soldiers prevented Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from accessing a piece of land in Gaduwa.

Wike had led officials of the Federal Capital Territory Development Association (FCDA) to the site when the armed personnel stopped them from entering.

Wike confronts soldiers amid heated exchange

Furious at the obstruction, Wike raised his voice at the soldiers.

“You are a fool,” he shouted at one officer.

Calmly, the soldier replied:

“I am not a fool but an officer.”

Security officials accompanying the minister attempted to persuade the soldiers to allow access, but the personnel insisted they were acting on orders from above.

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Wike vows not to be intimidated

Wike, already furious, said:

“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that they can intimidate.”

He further questioned the approach of the military, saying,

“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position, seeing that he has a problem, cannot approach my office to say, ‘Look, this is what’s going on,’ or simply because he is a military man, they could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those kinds of people who will succumb to blackmail.”

Video of confrontation goes viral

A video of the incident has since circulated widely on social media, drawing reactions from Nigerians and raising questions about the handling of public officials and security forces in the FCT.

Wike vs soldiers: Nigerians react

Meanwhile, several Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) are reacting to the quarrel.

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Legit.ng captured some comments below: @emeka306 wrote:

“This young Naval Soldier that politely made Wike cry today , God will bless you for your courage.”

@Maibitil_ tweeted:

“Proud of you bro Lt AM Yerima. The gallant Officer that shows Wike Military is not Ministry.”

@gentle0527 wrote:

“In Wike’s mind, if ten of this officer dey this country wahala dey for us oo.”

Wike opens up after fiery clash

Legit.ng earlier reported that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike condemned the alleged illegal takeover of a disputed land in Abuja by military personnel allegedly acting on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff.

According to a statement on Tuesday, November 11, by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s spokesperson, obtained by Legit.ng, the FCT minister described the act as unacceptable and lawless.

Wike, who visited the site on Tuesday, November 11, after reportedly receiving reports that soldiers drove away Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) officials enforcing development control directives, stated that no individual, regardless of their former position, would be allowed to intimidate government authorities or obstruct the enforcement of the law.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng