Storm Over Wike-Yerima Clash: Defence Minister, Peter Obi, Chidoka, Kperogi Weigh In

…Wike’s Aide Says Ex-Naval Chief Was Duped

The public spat between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, has spiraled into a national debate over power, civility, and institutional authority. From calls for restraint by the Defence Minister and former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, to sharp critiques by Peter Obi and Farooq Kperogi, the incident continues to provoke widespread reactions and soul-searching across the country.

The confrontation, captured in a viral video, occurred at a disputed construction site in Mabushi, Abuja — land reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd). Wike, leading an on-the-spot inspection, clashed with Lt. Yerima, who reportedly attempted to protect the property. The heated exchange saw the naval officer calmly retort, “I am not a fool, sir,” as Wike berated him — a phrase that instantly resonated with many Nigerians as a symbolic act of defiance against perceived abuse of power.

Responding to the uproar, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru assured Nigerians that the military hierarchy would protect any officer acting within the law. “We will always protect our officers on lawful duty,” he said in Abuja on Wednesday. “We are looking into this issue and assure that any officer doing his job diligently will be protected.”

In defence of his principal, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Publicity, Lere Olayinka, said the altercation arose from a fraudulent land deal that deceived the retired naval chief. Speaking on Channels Television, Olayinka explained that the property was allocated in 2007 to Santos Estate Limited for “park and recreation” use, not for residential or commercial purposes.
“In 2022, the company’s request to convert the land for commercial use was rejected,” Olayinka said. “Despite that, the firm illegally subdivided the land and sold it to unsuspecting buyers, including the former Chief of Naval Staff. The man was scammed.”

Olayinka insisted that the FCT Administration acted lawfully and that Gambo “has no valid title document for the land,” arguing that due process must precede any development in the area.

But the incident drew sharp rebuke from Labour Party leader Peter Obi, who described it as “a national embarrassment.” In a statement titled “Wike Versus Naval Officer: A Lesson for National Reflection,” Obi questioned the erosion of institutional discipline and the blurring of boundaries between civil and military authority.
“When public officials act beyond institutional norms, and when security agencies are used in ways that blur professional boundaries, we weaken both governance and public trust,” Obi said. “A new Nigeria must replace the culture of impunity with the discipline of law, order, and respect for due process.”

Former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka echoed similar sentiments, calling Wike’s conduct “a fundamental misstep.” According to him, “Any law enforcement officer, in uniform or plain clothes, represents the President and the sovereignty of the Nigerian state. To abuse such an officer is to diminish the authority of the Republic itself.”
Chidoka said ministers must act through lawful channels, not confrontation: “In a democracy, ministers act through process, not presence. A formal communication to the Minister of Defence would have sufficed. The Minister should apologise to the officer for using abusive language. It is not acceptable behaviour.”

U.S.-based professor and columnist Farooq Kperogi offered a more caustic take, portraying the clash as a rare instance where “an unstoppable force met an immovable object.” He hailed Yerima’s composure as “respectful but firm defiance” in the face of Wike’s “boorish bullying,” arguing that the young officer embodied courage and dignity against gerontocratic arrogance.