Niger Delta activist Asari Dokubo has condemned the confrontation between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and a military officer over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja. In a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Dokubo argued that Mr Wike’s authority as a Minister must be respected by the military.
Videos had surfaced online on Tuesday showing Mr Wike in a heated argument with military personnel at a site in Abuja. In the footage, Mr Wike was seen attempting to defuse the situation, separating his security detail from the soldiers as tensions escalated.
Mr Dokubo called for the military officer involved in the heated argument with the FCT Minister to be reprimanded and court-martialled by the appropriate authorities. He stated, “I’m not taking sides with Wike; I’m taking sides with what is the law, the rule, and the convention.” He added, “What happened yesterday; in any sane society, that person would be reprimanded and detained.” Mr Dokubo asserted that the Minister is the governor of the FCT and, constitutionally, the chief security officer of the city outside the President.
