By Fred Chukwuelobe
One is a minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which he has been running like Lord of the Manor.
The other is a fine, young, commissioned officer who was obeying an order by his superior. In military parlance, he was bound to obey it.
Then, the minister named Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike – two-term governor of oil-rich Rivers State and tormentor-in-chief of the moribund PDP dares the officer.
Opinions are divided and trust Nigerians to takes sides, sometimes without reasoning.
You now see people justifying indiscipline.
Yet, we expect our society to be respected among the comity of civilised nations.
A minister who has demonstrated propensity for loose talk and irrational behavior suddenly decides to ride in his RR which he bought on account of being a son of a father who was gate man (GM) of many companies.
He moves with a retinue of security and other aides with outriders and helicopter gunboats operated by the military.
He goes to physically stop work on a piece of land which he claims was being developed without approval by a retired general.
There he meets a team of armed soldiers and they refused to allow him access to the land, which by the way is under his ministry.
Rather than go back, report the general who has the land to his superiors and the C-in-C on whose behest he functions as minister, he lets loose insults on the young officer leading the team.
“Shut up! You’re an idiot! You’re a fool!” He yells like a street urchin.
The fine officer and gentleman stood his ground and told him he was obeying orders from his superior officer; that he’s not a fool and won’t shup up.
At this point, Wike’s overbloated ego is rubbished, thrown in the mud.
At this point I expect Wike to walk away, report the officer to the CDS, the president, and allow them deal with the matter in a civilized manner.
No. Not Wike.
He lacks discipline.
He must enforce his orders.
If he could tame the PDP and Sim Fubara, who is this ‘small boy’ who had not been born when he had his grandchild?
Wike throws caution to the winds, barking, cursing, shouting, creating chaos, creating a scene.
Eventually he walks away to live to curse another day.
And people who wish that ours should be a civilised society capable of sustaining civilization are defending Wike because he’s a minister and the army should be under the civilians.
‘Bloody civilians who do not know what it takes to be a soldier.’
Do you blame them? After all Soldiers with the help of politicians kept us where we are today.
Look, listen my dear friends, there’s absolutely no justification for Wike’s reaction.
It says a lot about who he is: an uncouth, uncivilized, irresponsible, irrational, badly behaved person. Full stop.
To those defending him, please note that you are endorsing indiscipline and this society is worse for it.
He has access to the C-in-C.
He is building official quarters for Supreme Court justices.
He’s a beneficiary of judiciary abracadabra.
He’s the lord of Rivers State.
The soldier is a small fly to him.
So, he goes for the jugular and decides to use a sledge hammer instead.
The C-in-C and all those emboldening him will hear the case and make a decision.
Did I hear you say ‘esprit de corps?’
It works both ways.
What’s the matter with us sef?!
NB: Fred Chukwuelobe, was a Special Assistant to former Governor of Anambra, Chris Ngige on Media and Publicity.
