A coalition of retired military officers called on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove or redeploy the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following his confrontation with a naval officer over a disputed land in Abuja.
The clash occurred on Tuesday at a parcel of land reportedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
Wike accused the ex-naval chief of carrying out illegal construction and confronted Lt. Ahmed Yerima for allegedly assaulting personnel of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) sent to halt the development.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, members of the Coalition of Concerned Military Veterans, which includes retired generals and senior officers from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, described Wike’s actions as “demeaning,” “unacceptable,” and “a direct insult to the Armed Forces and the Commander-in-Chief.”
Col. Yusuf Ibrahim (retd.), a member of the coalition’s Board of Trustees, said the minister’s reference to the naval officer as “a fool” was embarrassing and beneath the office he occupies.
He stressed that the officer was acting on lawful orders, and insulting him amounted to belittling state authority. Ibrahim added that Wike must apologise to the Nigerian Armed Forces, the officer involved, and President Tinubu.
Another member, Dr Awwal Abdullahi, accused Wike of a pattern of hostility toward military personnel, warning that the coalition would mobilise and occupy the FCT ministry if Tinubu failed to act.
Abdullahi noted that the veterans represented the entire retired military community and could no longer tolerate what they described as Wike’s arrogance.
In contrast, the FCT minister’s office, through Senior Special Assistant Lere Olayinka, said Wike had already clarified his position and that the veterans’ demand was within their constitutional rights.
Supporting the minister, the National Coalition for Democratic Integrity (NCDI) called for an investigation into Lt. Yerima’s conduct.
NCDI President Kiki Kiki condemned the officer’s actions, saying obstructing the minister and his team undermined civilian oversight and constitutional order.
He warned that allowing such behaviour unchecked could set a dangerous precedent for public respect of civil authority.
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