Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has offered an explanation for the confrontation between the Minister and military personnel.
Olayinka claimed that a “former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed in a land deal in Abuja” and “instead of seeking help, resorted to using military force.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka clarified that the disputed land was not allocated to the former Naval Chief, but to a company that attempted to “convert it for commercial purposes contrary to its original use.”
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Olayinka detailed the land’s history: “That particular land was allocated to a company in 2007, Santos Estate Limited, for park and recreation. The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a road corridor — you don’t build there.”
He alleged that in 2022, the company wrote to the FCT Development Authority (FCTDA) “seeking approval to convert the land’s purpose to commercial use.”
He continued: “Probably in anticipation of the Minister’s approval, the company began partitioning the land originally meant for park and recreation and sold it to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff. I want to say here that the former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of coming forward to seek help, he resorted to using military might.”
The confrontation had occurred on Tuesday in the Gaduwa district. An official accompanying Wike was quoted telling the soldiers: “This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this.”
The Minister, unhappy with the situation, questioned the officers’ actions, saying “no one is above the laws of the land.”
Wike challenged the development, arguing that due process was not followed, stating, “You have no document.”
Wike further asserted: “We cannot continue to act in impunity. We cannot continue this way. This country cannot go along this line. You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that they can intimidate.”
While the ex-Naval Chief has not responded, soldiers at the scene claimed he possessed the documents to the disputed land.
As of the time of filing the report, “the military has not commented on the altercation” between the FCT Minister and its personnel.
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