Breaking: ‘The Minister Should Not Have Confronted Him’ – Matawale Speaks On Wike’s Clash With Naval Officer

Christogonus Iheanyi November 13, 2025 0

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Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has ruled out the possibility of disciplinary action against Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who was involved in a heated verbal exchange with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during an enforcement visit to a disputed land in Abuja.

In an interview with DCL Hausa, the minister described the confrontation as “unnecessary” and said the matter should have been handled through proper administrative channels rather than through a public altercation.

“The minister should not have confronted him. Lieutenant Yerima was acting on orders. If Wike had any concerns, he should have spoken to his superiors or to me directly since I oversee naval affairs,” Matawalle said.

He further commended Yerima for maintaining composure during the tense exchange.

“You can clearly see that he was respectful while standing his ground. As far as we are concerned, he did not break any law or military regulation,” he added.

Background of the Dispute

The altercation occurred on Monday at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, where Minister Wike accused military personnel of obstructing officials of the FCT Department of Development Control from enforcing a stop-work order on an ongoing building project.

The land in question is reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd.), while the soldiers at the site claimed they were acting on instructions “from above.”

Wike insisted that the developers lacked valid ownership documents and statutory approvals for the construction and ordered the site sealed.

Investigation Underway

Matawalle confirmed that the Chief of Naval Staff has initiated an investigation into the ownership and status of the disputed property. However, he clarified that no official complaint has yet been received from the FCT minister.

“This whole situation was avoidable,” he said. “Before the minister went there, he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be looked into.”

The Defence Minister’s remarks come amid mounting public debate over civil–military relations and the limits of ministerial authority in Nigeria’s capital.