The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dispatched a cryptic social media post following the clash between Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and military personnel.
In a flyer published on X on Tuesday, the DHQ said it is an honour to serve in the Nigerian military.
“IT IS AN HONOUR TO SERVE IN THE NIGERIAN MILITARY. UNSHAKEN. UNBENT. UNBROKEN,” the flyer reads in bold letters.
On Tuesday, Wike was embroiled in a heated argument with military personnel at the site of a disputed plot of land in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
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According to Wike, when officials of the department of development control in his ministry were on site to implement his directive, they were chased away by armed soldiers allegedly acting on the instruction of a retired senior officer.
“I was informed that the soldiers of the military had to chase them away, and I thought they were acting illegally,” Wike said.
“Today, while I was in the office, I was called again that the military had taken over the place. I had to come myself to see things. It’s really unfortunate.”
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The FCT minister was thereafter seen in viral clips challenging a naval officer as tempers flared.
During the face-off, the FCT minister asked the naval officer to shut up but the soldier hit back.
Speaking with the officers, the minister demanded to see the approval granted to the “owners” of the land.
“Show me the documents you have. You have no documents. We cannot continue to act with such impunity,” Wike had said.
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“Where is the approval? This cannot go on. How is it that a man at his level cannot meet me, but instead sends soldiers to intimidate people? We are all from this country.”
The incident has divided opinions and sparked fierce debate on military-civilian relations in a fledgling democracy.
On Tuesday, Tukur Buratai, a former chief of army staff, asked Wike to apologise to the officer and President Bola Tinubu for the “verbal assault”.
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