ABUJA — The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) have expressed deep concern over the confrontation between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and naval officer Lt. A. Yerima, describing the incident as a dangerous precedent that could erode democratic norms and civilian authority.
In a statement issued Friday and signed by its chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group called the episode “a grave violation of democratic order.” The clash occurred on November 11, 2025, when Wike, accompanied by FCTA officials, attempted to enforce a stop-work order on a parcel of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, reportedly linked to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo. Naval personnel blocked the minister’s access, sparking a heated exchange captured on video.
“This is not about Wike as an individual. It is about the office he occupies,” the statement read. “Celebrating the humiliation of that institution today risks emboldening similar violations tomorrow against whoever holds the office — and, by extension, against the Nigerian people.”
NCYP cited legal experts, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who affirmed that Wike acted within his statutory powers under the Land Use Act and Section 18(1)(b) of the Federal Capital Territory Act, which vests control and allocation of land within the FCT in the minister. The group argued that preventing a minister from accessing land under his jurisdiction was “ultra vires, unconstitutional, and an affront to the authority of the President,” whose mandate the minister exercises on behalf of Nigerians.
The group emphasized that the land in question was not a military installation but a private property reportedly linked to a retired naval admiral. It argued that no law empowers serving military personnel to guard private real estate, let alone obstruct a sitting minister performing official duties, describing the deployment as “an egregious overreach of military authority.”
While faulting some of Wike’s remarks during the exchange, NCYP insisted that the minister’s tone did not justify what it described as “a constitutional breach” by the naval officer or those who authorized his deployment.
The group referenced cases in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada where military officers who obstructed or resisted civilian ministers were sanctioned to preserve democratic norms, noting that the Wike–Yerima confrontation represents “a violation rarely tolerated in established democracies.”
NCYP called on President Bola Tinubu to order an investigation into the deployment of naval personnel to the property and to discipline all officers involved. It also urged Wike to apologise to the military institution for any inappropriate language while insisting that the Navy must apologise to the FCT Administration and ensure no officer is deployed to block civil authorities again.
To Nigerians, the group cautioned against politicising the incident, warning that normalising military interference in civil administration could threaten democratic stability.
Other reactions have emerged across the country. A coalition of retired military veterans condemned Wike’s conduct, calling his language “disrespectful and unbecoming of a public office holder.” Spokesman Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts said uniformed officers represent the authority of the Nigerian state and should be engaged through proper channels. Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar denied viral claims that he gifted Lt. Yerima a new SUV in support of his actions. His spokesperson, Paul Ibe, dismissed the rumor as “entirely false,” urging the public to ignore the fabricated story.
The incident has sparked widespread public debate, with many Nigerians divided over the legality, optics, and tone of the confrontation. While some view Wike’s actions as a necessary assertion of civil authority, others see it as provocative and inflammatory. The video of the clash continues to circulate online, fueling discussions about civil-military relations, land rights, and executive conduct.
