A prominent legal practitioner has weighed in on the viral confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the naval officer, Lieutenant Yarima, which has captured widespread attention across social media platforms in Nigeria and beyond.
The incident, which has been widely circulated online, shows a tense exchange between the minister and the naval officer during a land inspection in Abuja, sparking debates about authority, protocol, and the conduct of public officials and military personnel alike.
Lawyer Reacts to Viral Confrontation Between Wike and Naval Officer
In an extensive Facebook post, the lawyer, First Baba Isa, shared his views on the incident, criticizing both the minister’s approach and the public perception surrounding the naval officer involved.
Isa expressed disappointment with the manner in which Wike addressed the officer, suggesting that the minister’s actions undermined the dignity of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He argued that Wike, as a representative of the Commander-in-Chief, should have handled the situation through formal channels rather than engaging in a public altercation that he described as unnecessary and disrespectful.
The lawyer emphasized that Lieutenant Yarima was merely following orders and that confronting him publicly to assert dominance was legally and morally questionable. According to Isa, naval officers should not be elevated to “hero” status merely for performing routine duties assigned to them, particularly when deployed to guard the properties of former government officials.
“I felt a painful shame seeing the Minister talk to a commissioned Naval Officer like that. The Minister, who is an agent of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, spat on the glory of the Armed Forces for talking to an officer, who is simply following orders, in that manner,” Isa wrote in his post. “Wike could simply put a call to his boss and resolve the issue rather than creating a scene like that. It is infra dig the high office he occupies.”
The lawyer also highlighted the legal powers of the FCT Minister over land, noting that while Wike holds significant authority, his exercise of power should remain within the bounds of propriety. “Legally speaking, all land in a state (read FCT) belongs to the Governor (read Wike) who holds it in trust for the people. Wike’s powers over land in the FCT are immense but I never thought a day would come when I would see the FCT Minister exercising these powers in such a brazen manner,” Isa added.
On the matter of heroism, Isa dismissed the idea that the naval officer’s actions warranted public praise or elevation. “He is not a hero. Hero for what? Naval officers in other countries don’t achieve hero status by being deployed to guard highbrow properties of their former bosses,” the lawyer stated, stressing the difference between routine military duty and acts of genuine heroism.
Isa’s statement has fueled further discussion online, with many users weighing in on social media about the conduct of both the minister and the naval officer, and questioning the broader implications for authority, discipline, and public perception within Nigeria’s governance and military structures.
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