By Fred Chukwuelobe
Since the story broke, Nigerians have commented. Some for the FCT Minister. Majority for the young officer. No matter on whose side you are or what the law says, even if Wike had the right to enter the property as FCT Minister or you think the young officer had no business protecting a private property owned by his superior officer who asked him to do so and he was bound to obey, let me make these last comments and rest the matter:
1. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is the FCT Minister. He reports to the President and C-in-C through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He also has direct access to the military hierarchy.
2. He has the right to visit any project site within the FCT to inspect projects and issue appropriate orders. In doing so, he must act within the confines of the law.
3. It was on that premise that he went to the property owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff (a Vice Admiral, an equivalent of a Lt. Gen in the Army).
4. That rank can only be attained by an officer who has paid his dues in the military. Forget that ex-police officer Alozie Ogugbaja once said the khaki boys had no job and that was why the drink pepper soup in mammy markets and had plenty of time planning coups. It is also not easy to plan coups.
5. When Wike realised that the project belongs to a former CNS, he should have respected the officer even if he rose to the ranks drinking pepper soup. Wike also rose to the ranks drinking ogogoro and abusing everybody who stood in his way. He should have approached the issue through official means assuming the land was illegally acquired.
6. When he got to the site and saw soldiers guarding the place, he should have asked them what they were doing and who sent them. Upon learning who sent them, he should have greeted them, quietly leave, and use official means of communication to deal with the matter:
a. Report the matter to the President whom he reports to.
b. Copy the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who in turn will approach his former boss – the CNS – or he will wait for the President to minute the letter to him for action.
7. Having done this, Wike can raise the matter at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting and pray the President to intervene. Mind you, I am suggesting these steps because of the peronality involved. Don’t tell me about all being equal before the law and that Wike had the right to enforce the law. While he was Governor of Rivers State, the EFCC came to arrest a judge alleged to be corrupt. Wike blocked them using his executive powers.
8. It is wrong for Wike to engage the young officer, raining insults on him; calling him “a fool,” “an idiot,” and asking him to “shut up.” To make matters worse, he called the CDS and handed over the phone to the “fool.” He took the phone, removed his hand from his pocket where he had kept it while Wike was ranting – a sign of salute and respect to his superior officer. Wike waited for the telephone conversation to end before storming out with a last rant: “get out!”
9. By calling the CDS and handing the phone to the “idiot,” Wike met his comeuppance: he instantly was deflected and humiliated. He left with his tail tucked in like a humiliated dog.
10. Certain conducts are expected of a public servants in the course of their duties. If any of them falls below such standards, the law they were enforcing takes the backstage. As a minister, Wike had the right to demand that work be stopped on the project until the right conditions are met, no matter who owns the site.
If he must do so, he must do so respectfully and responsibly. Resorting to uncouth insults and abuses cannot solve anything. Once he did that, he lost the respect of decent people. Wike had a better and a more respectful way of doing his job. He didnt even need to visit the site personally. He went and chose the social miscreant option and he met his comeuppance.
11. Wike should be told that it is not easy for anyone to sign to die for his country. We demand utmost respect for our men and women in uniform because they signed to lay down their lives in defense of our country. Wike’s two boys are not military officers and have been following him on official duties, taking pictures, and rubbing it on our faces. Between his boys and that officer, Yerima, who deserves more respect from Nigerians?
12. Those of you quoting the law and defending Wike are missing the point; it is not about him or the law which he set out to enforce; it is about the manner he went about it; it was wrong, indecorous, beneath his office, insulting to our men and women in uniform.
13. Finally, he should look at the United States of America (USA) whose democracy we copied but operating it in breach. Any time the President or a government official says, ‘we honour our men and women in uniform,’ everybody stands to applaud irrespective of their political leanings. Even Supreme Court Justices. This is because of the respect they have for these men and women in uniform, for their sacrifices to protect and defend their country. Our men and women deserve equal respect and not abuses and insults.
On that score, I find it difficult to cite the law to justify Wike’s indiscretion. He could have done better if he knew better.
NB: Fred Chukwuelobe, was a Special Assistant to former Governor of Anambra, Chris Ngige on Media and Publicity.
