The Minister of Defence, Mr Mohammed Badaru, has commended the professionalism, and discipline displayed by Lieutenant Yerima, the Naval Officer who refused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike from gaining entry into a property in Gaduwa district of Abuja.
This was as Badaru specifically said that the Federal Ministry of Defence will always protect its officers, emphasising that Lt, Yerima has did during the altercation between him and Wike.
Badaru assured that the Ministry would not allow anything to happen to Yerima since he acted in line of his assigned duties.
The confrontation which almost degenerated into fisticuffs between Wike and Yerima was over a parcel of land allegedly belonging to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rted).
A trending video showed that soldiers on guard duty at the disputed site blocked the FCT minister’s convoy, leading to a heated verbal exchange between Wike and Lt Yerima.
However, the Minister of Defence, who described Lt. Yerima as a disciplined Officer, said that the Ministry of Defence is taking a critical look at the issue.
In the words of Badaru; “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly. So, we will not allow anything to happen to him, as far as he is doing his job, and he is doing his job greatly well”.
A visibly angry Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike accused the soldier of obstructing government officials from performing their duties even as Officer Yerima tried to explain that he was acting under lawful orders.
In the video, Wike yelled, saying; “Because you’re an officer, nobody does that, nobody acquires land illegally”.
Navy Lt. Yerima; “Sir, we did not carry any land”.
Wike; “The man took this and we will not allow that just because he is the Chief of Army Staff”.
The altercation later escalated when the soldier defended his conduct, stating that all actions taken on the land were legitimate.
Lt. Yerima; “Sir, everything was acquired legally. Sir, you get the point”.
Wike; “Will you stop that?”
Lt. Yerima; “Sir, I’m an officer, I have integrity.”
Wike; “Shut up!”
Soldier: “Sir, I will not shut up. Sir, I won’t shut up. Sir, you can’t shut me up”.
The enraged Wike then called Lt. Yerima, “You’re a big fool,” but the officer stood his ground.
Wike: “You’re a big fool.”
Lt. Yerima; “I’m not a fool, sir. I am acting on an order”.
The soldier’s defiance shocked onlookers as both sides refused to back down, creating a tense standoff that drew attention from nearby residents and FCTA officials.
The altercation is the latest in a series of confrontations linked to land ownership disputes, demolition and alleged land grabbing in the Federal Capital Territory since Wike assumed office as the minister of the FCT.
