Wike Alleges 2019 Election Rigging, Accuses Buratai, Military of Intimidation

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his respect for the Nigerian military, but stressed that the armed forces must operate within the law.

Wike, who said this while addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, insisted that FCTA would not condone lawlessness by military officers, serving or retired.

According to him, no country will allow impurity and lawlessness, even among government officials, not to talk about private individuals.

His comments followed Tuesday’s confrontation with a naval officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, who denied him access to a disputed land, allegedly belonging to a retired Chief of Naval Staff, Awwal Gambo.

The minister urged Nigerians to learn to obey the law, adding that the FCT Administration would not tolerate any attempt to violate land use regulations or obstruct government officials performing their lawful duties.

Wike condemned the acts of lawlessness and selective enforcement, saying they undermine the country’s progress and governance.

The minister said the clash began after officials from the FCT Department of Development Control sought to enforce a stop-work order on Plot 1946, due to an absence of valid building documents and approval. “When the matter was reported to me, I instructed that all work on that plot should stop immediately because there were no legal documents or development approvals.”

Wike, however, revealed that the soldiers guarding the site thwarted the government officials’ mission, chasing them away and blocking access to the property. “I was told that soldiers came and drove our officials away,” he stated.

He wondered why a former military leader would bypass official channels and resort to intimidation instead of proper engagement: “I don’t understand how someone who once held such an important office will not come to explain his position to the FCT minister but use soldiers to harass government officials. I will not tolerate that or bow to intimidation.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s challenges, he said: “I cry for this country; it is very unfortunate that we either trivialize everything that happens, bring religion to our country or bring the class we belong to. But no country can ever succeed if it continues to allow impunity and lawlessness.”

He openly admitted his readiness to confront political opponents directly.  “Yes, I’ve wounded people politically, I have no regret about it. And I will continue to hurt.”

Addressing critics, who claimed he had met his match in the military officer, A. A Yerima, he attributed their misunderstandings to a failure to investigate facts. “Laziness, people don’t read, people don’t investigate. I saw the lady saying Wike had met his match. And you don’t want to find out what really happened.”

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he recounted that government officials have been attacked and beaten up.” He challenged the logic of allowing attacks on officials who carry out lawful duties while he remains in office as their protector: “How will some officials carry out their functions again when they know their principal and their boss cannot protect them?”

Reflecting on his dealings with distinguished retired military personalities and political figures, he acknowledged respectful communications from figures like former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and General TY Danjuma, who never resorted to force but sought solutions through dialogue. “General TY Danjuma will call you. These are people with discipline. They never sent soldiers. They never sent anybody to go and attack anybody.”

He explained that the land involved was originally allocated to a company for parks and recreation, not to any individual or military official, adding that attempts to alter the land use were repeatedly denied by the former minister.

He indicted the former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) for selling land illegally and assaulting government officials charged with enforcing the law, adding that he must have been scammed, insisting he does not have the required documents to lay claim to the land.

The minister condemned selective law enforcement influenced by military ties or ethnic affiliations, stating, “Government cannot enforce laws because you are taxed or you have a relationship or you come from a particular place. Who does that? Who does such a thing?”

He warned that even if the land were theirs, “will you build without building approval? These are people who travel overseas. Even when you have a building in your backyard, you can’t even go and extend. You must seek approval from the cities.”

He declared his representation of the presidency and the law, saying, “I represent the president as a minister. So, if for example, a minister arrives, you mean you cannot have that decorum, that respect to say sir, you know, I will get back to you. Nobody talks about that.”

He rebuffed the military officer’s claim to authority, saying, “The same government officials that you are beating are the ones who made you a commissioned officer. You are not beating private people.”

He opposed the deployment of military force to intimidate government officials executing lawful work, saying, “Is that why you should deploy the military? You see a whole director, deputy director and senior government officials and it did not occur to you to say, let me see how I can resolve this matter?”

The minister urged colleagues and citizens alike to perfect their legal documents, warning of impermanence in office: “I say it that even when you are working with me, you are not here forever. Perfect your document. The mere fact that nobody did that yesterday does not mean that somebody will not do that tomorrow.”

He also accused former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai (retd) of directing election rigging against him in 2019. “He cannot teach me. This was the same man who directed his GOC to rig my election in 2019. He couldn’t rig me out, he lost. He told his GOC to kill me. He could not kill me,” Wike alleged.

Despite political rivalry, he reiterated his continued support for President Bola Tinubu and his readiness to challenge opponents from any party, saying, “I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu. I stand by the side of the law.”

Affirming firm political support, he declared: “I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu and I have never hidden my admiration and I will continue to do it.”

He emphasised the imperative of abiding by law and maintaining decorum, saying, “Yes, you are a young man, yes, you are a commissioned officer, but I am a minister and I’m representing Mr. President. That alone should have given you that decorum. But no, no, you chose to challenge the minister representing the president.”

He reiterated that illegal orders must not be obeyed. “When you are an officer you are doing something illegal. Even if it’s a legal order given to you, that job you are doing is illegal,” he said.

He assured no tolerance for intimidation or unjust actions, saying, “Nobody is going to do anything, even when you take action.”