Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer, A. M. Yarima, as a national embarrassment.
In a statement released on Wednesday through his 𝕏 account, Obi said the encounter should prompt a national reflection on the state of governance and institutional discipline in the country.
The confrontation occurred on Tuesday in Abuja when soldiers reportedly prevented Wike and his entourage from gaining access to a parcel of land in the Gaduwa District. The situation escalated when one of the officials accompanying the Minister protested the soldiers’ actions.
Speaking to journalists at the site, Wike accused former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, of using soldiers to intimidate civilians and oversee the illegal development of a parcel of land without any valid title documents.
The Minister maintained that Gambo’s actions were illegal, insisting that he had no official approval to carry out any construction on the land. Wike vowed not to allow the development to continue and declared that he would not be intimidated by any military involvement.
In his reaction, Obi described the clash as unnecessary and a reflection of deeper institutional disorder in the country.
The former Governor of Anambra State said that beyond the personalities involved, the incident raises critical questions about the role of the military in civil matters and the proper limits of ministerial authority.
Obi warned that when public officials act outside institutional norms, and when security agencies are used in ways that blur professional boundaries, both governance and public trust suffer.
He called for the strengthening of national institutions that uphold due process and the rule of law, urging leaders to replace the culture of impunity with one of discipline and accountability.
“The recent altercation between the FCT Minister, His Excellency Barrister Nyesom Wike, and a Naval officer is yet another reflection of the growing institutional disorder in our country,” Obi said. “What should have been a routine civic matter has once again become a national embarrassment.”
He questioned the increasing use of military personnel in civil disputes, asking whether such practices align with the principles of good governance and respect for institutional boundaries.
Obi further stressed that a country aspiring to greatness must build systems where institutions are stronger than individuals and where public office is exercised with humility, restraint, and respect for the law.
He added that those who hold public office should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the dignity and honour associated with their titles.
“A nation that feels insulted when referred to as a disgraced country must replace the culture of impunity with the discipline of law, order, and due process,” Obi said.
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