Calls for restraint and respect for Nigeria’s uniformed services intensified on Thursday as former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, declared that the naval officer involved in a public altercation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike committed no offence. Both officials warned that disparaging conduct toward military personnel amounted to disrespecting the Nigerian state itself.
General Irabor told editors at a national security forum in Abuja that the uniform worn by military or security officers represented the sovereignty of the nation, not the individual. He criticised public reactions to the confrontation as “misguided,” adding that even senior officers were barred from physically assaulting their subordinates under military law.
Matawalle, in a separate interview, insisted there was no legal basis to discipline Lieutenant A. Yerima, who clashed verbally with Wike. He said the officer acted professionally, obeyed lawful instructions, and maintained composure throughout—conduct he described as “worthy of commendation,” not punishment.
Wike, however, denied reports of a rift with the military, insisting he had no interest in weakening security institutions. He maintained that the FCT Administration would not tolerate intimidation or actions that violated Abuja’s land-use regulations. The minister stressed that resolving conflicts required adherence to lawful channels, not social media speculation or political framing.
The controversy sparked broader political reactions. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) argued that Wike deserved a national apology, claiming the incident undermined the authority of his office and, by extension, that of the President. PANDEF’s national chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, urged President Bola Tinubu to order a full investigation to protect both civilian authority and military professionalism.
The saga deepened further after claims circulated on social media alleging that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gifted an SUV to the naval officer. Atiku’s media office dismissed the story as “entirely fabricated,” urging the public to ignore what it described as deliberate misinformation.
Public debate remains sharply divided, with questions continuing over the intersection of civil authority, military protocol, and the limits of official power. The issue has reignited broader concerns about rule of law, security conduct, and the protection of state institutions in Nigeria’s capital.
