There was intense drama at Gaduwa village in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers prevented the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and officials of the FCT Administration from gaining access to a parcel of land owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, an exchange which has become a topic of debate nationwide.
Findings revealed that the parcel of land in question is situated on Plot 1946, which became the subject of a confrontation after Wike questioned the legality of its development by the ex-naval chief, insisting the military had neither approval nor valid documentation from the FCTA.
“Show me the documents. You have no documents. We cannot continue with this impunity. Where is the approval given to you?” Wike demanded.
“How can that man at his level, if he has a problem, he cannot reach me to say, ‘I’m sorry, sir, see what I have’? You send soldiers to intimidate whom? We are all from this country. You cannot be higher than the government!” Wike stated.
Responding to the Minister, the Army lieutenant deployed to the site, A. M. Yerima, denied any attempt to intimidate government officials, saying development on the land was backed by approvals obtained through the proper authorities.
“On the contrary, sir, we are not trying to intimidate anybody. The men mobilised on site, and then staff or workers of the FCDA came and disturbed them. That was when the Admiral gave the order.
Because the papers are complete and he said he submitted them,” Yerima stated.
The exchange, however, became heated when the minister insisted that the military would “never develop this land,” to which Yerima responded that he was an officer with integrity and was only following orders.
Wike, visibly angered by the officer’s response, ordered him to be quiet, to which the officer replied, “I will not shut up.”
“You are a very big fool,” Wike fired back, raising a finger in the soldier’s face. “As of the time I graduated, you were still in primary school. You must kill everybody here!”
“I won’t kill anybody!” the soldier fired back.
“You must kill everybody here,” Wike repeated before backing off, saying, “Get out!”
Wike speaks on the incident.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, Wike said he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, adding that the FCTA would not allow “illegal development and land grabbing” to stand.
“I’ve spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and I’ve spoken to the Chief of Naval Staff, and they have assured me that they have to resolve the matter. We’re not coming here to have a shootout with anybody to cause chaos and all.
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“But what I can say, I would not allow it to happen. The way we have done and carried out our jobs in other areas is the same way it will be done here. He will not carry out this illegal deployment and land grabbing simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I would not allow that,” Wike declared.
No document backing the ownership of the land
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, alleged that the military men “threatened to shoot” his principal during the encounter.
In his narration of events posted on his official X handle, #OlayinkaLere, the media aide said the land owner, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, had no title documents and no building approval.
He alleged that the former naval chief had sent armed officers to “attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control,” adding that military men stationed on the site threatened to shoot anyone who interfered with the development of the land.
“Because he was told to stop building on a land he has no title document and building approval, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, sent his armed military security details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control.
“He also stationed armed military men to protect the illegal development, with the military men threatening to shoot anyone who interferes with them.
“Today, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, visited the site, after talking to the Chief of Defence Staff on the Phone,” the post read.
The defence headquarters is yet to comment on the issue as of the time of filing this report.
TVC previously reported that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has granted land use defaulters in Asokoro, Maitama, Gaki and Wuse districts an additional 14-day ultimatum to pay a 5m violation fee and comply with the terms of land use change and conversion.
This was disclosed in a Sunday circular signed by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the office of the minister.
