At the 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Abuja, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), weighed in on the recent confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Naval Officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, over a disputed plot of land in Abuja. Irabor emphasized that the military uniform is not just an attire but it symbolizes the authority and sovereignty of the Nigerian state.
“The uniform is not about who is wearing it, rather it represents the authority of the state,” Irabor stated. “Whether it’s a young officer or a senior one, when you make disparaging remarks or act against them, you are in fact insulting the state itself.”
Irabor’s remarks come amid a national debate over the legality and propriety of deploying serving military personnel to guard the private property allegedly linked to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
While Wike has defended his actions as a stand against impunity and illegal land development, Irabor warned that confrontations with uniformed officers risk undermining respect for state institutions.
He further suggested that Wike’s outburst amounted to “an offence against the state,” urging public officials to exercise restraint and uphold the dignity of state symbols.
Responding to Irabor’s comments, a prominent international attorney, Asukwo Mendie Archibong Esq., defended the principle of civilian control over the military, calling it “non-negotiable” and “the hallmark of democracy.” He argued that military personnel must not be drawn into civil disputes or issued unlawful orders by their superiors. He further emphasized that the Supreme Court in several settled cases indicated and unlawful order is ilegal. Archibong also clarified that Wike did not physically assault any officer, and acted within his legal authority as custodian of all lands in the Federal Capital Territory. An authority delegated to him by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He urged Gen. Irabor, (rtd), to exercise greater restraint in his public commentaries to avoid inflaming the already heightened tension in the country.
The incident has reignited broader questions about civilian – military relations, the sanctity of public office, and the limits of state authority in Nigeria’s democratic framework.
