When power meets power

BY OGECHI OKORO

When I first watched the viral video of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a heated exchange with some young military officers, I thought it was a skit. But when the same clip appeared on major news platforms, I realised it was real, and frankly, a national embarrassment.

Beyond the shouting and the choice of words, that confrontation revealed a deeper problem in Nigeria’s governance structure. It exposed the uneasy intersection of political power and military privilege. My first question was simple: who owns the land at the centre of the dispute?

If the land belongs to the Nigerian military as an institution, could a federal agency have acquired it without following due process? That seems unlikely. But if the land belongs to retired military chiefs, then it is private property. If that is the case, what business do active-duty soldiers have guarding private land?

Nigeria is battling insecurity on multiple fronts. Soldiers who should be fighting terrorists and bandits have no business protecting plots of land that may have been dubiously acquired by former commanders. That, in itself, is duty negligence and deserves a full investigation.

Now, I am not exactly a fan of Wike, but sometimes he makes sense. Could it be that the minister was simply doing the job he was appointed to do, enforcing Abuja’s land use laws? If the retired officers believe they have a superior legal claim, they can seek redress in court. Using military might to obstruct a government official from performing his duty is not only undemocratic but also dangerous.

However, Wike’s communication style is another matter. His public relations team has not done enough to help him project composure. Leadership at his level requires discipline, restraint, and a measured tone. The altercation with that young officer was regrettable and should not be celebrated. Today it is Wike; tomorrow it could be someone else.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. The Minister’s boundless energy is well known, but sometimes energy must be balanced with emotional intelligence. The ability to de-escalate conflict is not a weakness. It is leadership.

The military, for its part, must stick to its constitutional mandate. Soldiers are meant to defend the country, not defend land. If they believe the minister acted improperly, they should provide evidence and follow due process. Resorting to intimidation or public confrontation undermines the professionalism the armed forces claim to uphold.

The rising chants of “Kill Wike!” that have circulated online are reckless and dangerous. We must not allow personal animosity to cloud our sense of national interest. In public discourse, criticism should be grounded in principle, not emotion.

Wike may not always get it right, but even his critics must acknowledge that he acts decisively in a system often paralysed by hesitation. Governance cannot function if every attempt to enforce order is met with military defiance.

This incident should serve as a lesson to both politicians and the military. Power, whether civilian or military, must be exercised with responsibility. Authority is not proven by aggression, but by restraint.

If Nigeria must move forward, both our leaders and our soldiers must remember one thing: discipline, not ego, is what sustains a nation.

Okoro can be contacted via [email protected]