Former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo has criticised the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and military officers during a dispute over a parcel of land in Abuja.
A senior Naval officer, who claimed to be acting on directives from former Chief of Naval Staff Awal Gambo, reportedly blocked Wike and officials of the FCT Administration from accessing the contested property, leading to a tense exchange.
Reacting in a video posted on Facebook, Asari argued that the officer involved should face disciplinary action and be court martialled by the appropriate authorities.
I am not taking side with Wike, I am taking side with what is the law, the rule, and the convention. What happened yesterday, in any sane society, that person will be reprimanded and detained, he stated.
Asari described the confrontation as unnecessary, noting that the FCT Minister holds constitutional authority over the capital.
The confrontation with the military man and the Minister of FCT is uncalled for. The Minister is the governor of the FCT and constitutionally, he is the chief security officer outside the president of the city of Abuja, he said.
He stressed that military personnel remain subject to the constitution and procedures guiding land development in the capital.
There is law in Abuja and nobody has the right to go and develop a piece of property without following the laid down rules and regulations. A military man is subjected to the constitution, he noted.
While acknowledging past differences with Wike, Asari insisted the officer’s conduct was unacceptable.
I might not like Wike, our relationships have witnessed ups and downs, but in any sane society that fellow ought to have been court marshalled. It cant happen anywhere outside Nigeria, he said.
Asari however expressed reservations about the language Wike used during the incident, but maintained that the Minister had the right to visit the site.
In an executive system of government the bulk at the table of the executive officer. I did not see anything wrong in the Minister going there. The only place I had a problem with him was the language he used when he was leaving, he added.
Nobody can accept that sort of affront from somebody who by the law ought to see you as his superior, Asari said.
