Former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Muiz Banire has condemned the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Nyesom Wike, during his confrontation with a naval officer in Abuja, describing it as an arrogant display of power and a complete departure from the ethics of public service.
In a detailed commentary, Banire said the incident was symptomatic of a deeper governance problem — one that reflects the abuse of authority, erosion of institutional respect, and a growing tendency of those in power to act above the law.
He began by expressing surprise at his own instinct to “congratulate” the Minister for surviving what could have been a fatal confrontation. “I am doing so because on a typical day where such an incident occurs, it is a panel of enquiry that will be ongoing after the demise of the subject,” Banire wrote.
He likened Wike’s survival to sheer luck, referencing the infamous “mad dogs” assault involving Chief M.K.O. Abiola and some military officers in the 1980s, which ended violently. “It is this survival luck of the Minister that warrants the congratulatory message; otherwise, a repeat of the Abiola incident would have been a disaster,” he said.
Banire commended the calmness and composure of the naval officer involved, Lt. A.M. Yarima, whose restraint, he argued, prevented what could have escalated into a physical confrontation.
He explained that the altercation between Wike and the officer over a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa, Abuja, was not a random misunderstanding but a troubling symbol of Nigeria’s governance fault lines.
“It is a reflection of the abuse of authority, the erosion of institutional respect, and the drift from rule of law to raw displays of power,” Banire wrote, adding that the incident has attracted criticism from military veterans and civil society.
Abuse of power and arrogance of office
Banire said his critique of Wike’s behaviour was not just based on the altercation itself but on what it represents — the arrogance of power, the spectacle of intimidation, and the undermining of institutional ethics. He noted that as a public officer, Wike’s responsibility is to protect administrative process, not to engage in confrontational drama.
“In carrying out his duties, one would have expected a more dignifying and self-respectful approach,” Banire stated. “The Yoruba say, ti won ba ran eni ni’se eru, a fi t’omo je — when one is sent on a slavish errand, you execute it with the honour of a freeborn. Rather, the incident suggests that Wike assumed the posture of power rather than stewardship.”
He said the Minister’s language and conduct during the encounter were unbecoming of his office. Reports indicate that when Wike arrived at the site, he met naval officers guarding the property and ordered access, which was declined.
When the naval officer tried to explain himself, the Minister reportedly interrupted and ordered him to keep quiet. The officer then asserted, “Sir, you cannot tell me to keep quiet. I am a commissioned officer,” to which Wike allegedly retorted, “You are a fool.”
“The Minister’s outburst was uncalled for,” Banire wrote. “For a public officer to address a uniformed service member in such terms is a national embarrassment. The insult serves no purpose other than to belittle the officer and tarnish the dignity of the Minister’s own office.”
Breach of institutional respect
Banire argued that Wike’s outburst amounted to an affront on the entire Nigerian Armed Forces and, by extension, on President Bola Tinubu, who as Commander-in-Chief, embodies the institution the officer represents.
“The Minister humiliated an officer of the Federal Republic and by extension, the entire populace that commissioned him. Beyond that, he embarrassed his appointor, the President,” he wrote.
He observed that rather than de-escalating the tension, the Minister escalated it through visible frustration and an outburst of ego, which could have led to violence but for the intervention of his aides.
“A mature public servant lays down the law quietly, engages through proper administrative channels, and provides instructive direction,” he said. “What played out instead resembled a brawl of ego and power theatre.”
Banire maintained that the incident portrayed governance as a contest of muscle rather than a process grounded in law and civility.
“The presence of armed soldiers at a land dispute site and the Minister’s arrival there gave the impression of a deliberate display of authority,” he noted. “The optics screamed, ‘I am the Minister, I have the muscle.’ That is a dangerous territory.”
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Failure of security protocol
The former APC legal adviser also blamed the Department of State Services personnel attached to the Minister for failing to intervene or whisk him away when the situation became tense. “The VIP protection mechanism failed,” he said, describing it as evidence that the SSS needs to strengthen its capacity in handling such volatile encounters.
He added that General Tukur Buratai, a former Chief of Army Staff, was right in describing Wike’s behaviour as reckless, noting that such actions erode civil-military relations and weaken the dignity of uniformed service.
Commending professionalism, calling for accountability
Banire, however, praised Lt. Yarima for demonstrating composure and restraint, saying his conduct reflected professionalism and respect for military discipline. “He simply cannot be blamed for obeying orders from his superiors,” Banire said. “If anything, he deserves promotion for his ability to manage a difficult situation without escalation.”
He urged Wike to publicly apologise to the officer, the Nigerian military, and the President, saying that the incident had damaged public confidence in the administration’s commitment to rule of law and decorum.
“The Minister must recognise that public office is not a personal empire. He must show remorse and apologise to restore institutional confidence,” Banire wrote.
A call for reform,restraint
Banire stressed that the episode should prompt a broader reflection on Nigeria’s governance culture. He said that civil authorities like the FCT Administration must establish clear engagement protocols with the armed forces to prevent similar confrontations in the future.
“For the future, administrative steps rather than confrontation ought to be the way out,” he said. “If a Minister visits a disputed site and finds illegal activity, the proper approach is to document it, issue a stop-work order, and escalate the matter to relevant authorities — not engage in shouting or public spectacle.”
He warned that the continued glorification of power projection over institutional process will erode public trust in governance. “If access to land or building approvals can be thwarted by armed personnel or ‘orders from above,’ irrespective of paperwork, then the rule of law becomes a hollow shell,” he noted.
Banire concluded that the incident should serve as a national lesson on the need for humility, respect for institutions, and restraint among those in power. “Office is not licence; power is not right; process is not optional,” he said. “When those who hold office allow arrogance to overshadow service, public confidence will continue to bleed.”
He urged leaders to always remember that governance is stewardship, not showmanship. “The Minister’s office, like any public institution, bears a sacred trust — to act for all, to be anchored in process, and to model respect and restraint. That trust was compromised in this incident,” he added.
Banire said the clash between Wike and the naval officer should be a clarion call to rebuild respect for the rule of law, strengthen institutional dignity, and remind public officials that in governance, power must always serve the people, not intimidate them.
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