By Abiola Olawale
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims of a personal conflict with the Nigerian military following a confrontation with a naval officer over a disputed land in Abuja this week.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the Minister denied any “beef” with the Armed Forces, claiming that his ongoing enforcement actions against illegal structures and land grabbing are guided by the rule of law.
Wike also vowed that the FCT Administration will not succumb to intimidation or allow any individual, regardless of status, to violate land use regulations or obstruct government officials performing their lawful duties.
He said: “You are told to obey legal things. So, if, because you are a security aide, to say, a former president, or whatever, and then you shoot at someone, you think you will not be charged for murder, because it is a former president that gave you the order?
“When people have problems, we try to resolve them, but don’t use intimidation, don’t try to weaken government. You cannot weaken the government. Because when we allow this now, others will follow suit. And then they will say, when it happened to this and that, what did you do?
“So, gentlemen, I have respect for the military. I will continue to respect them because I know what they stand for. So anybody trying to bring collision there, to say, oh, he is having a problem with the military, it is not correct. I don’t have a problem with the military and I will not have a problem.
“If we are having a problem with the military, I know where to run to. If I go to the Chief of Defence Staff, I will go to the Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of Naval Staff, or Air Force, or Chief of Defence Intelligence, etc. I could go to the president. I could do that.
“But as a private individual, how many people would I run to? If you have a problem with us, I will run to the president. Who does that? So, all I will be telling them every day is, ‘This individual is having a problem with us, this individual is having problems?’ So I don’t have a problem with the military,” he said.
Wike, however, said the issue had been blown out of proportion by those bent on portraying him as being at loggerheads with the military.
He said the FCT Administration’s duty is to protect the integrity of Abuja’s master plan and ensure that all developments conform to approved land use provisions.
According to him, those who obtained land for agricultural purposes but later converted it to residential estates or commercial ventures without approval would be made to face the law.
“Government cannot function in a lawless society. If we allow one person to violate the rules because of who he is, others will follow. That is how impunity begins. We must learn to obey the law irrespective of who is involved.
“Whenever there is a matter that concerns the military, I know who to talk to – the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, or even the President. We resolve issues institutionally, not through confrontation,” he said.
