Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Dumebi Kachikwu, on Friday expressed concern that the recent uproar over the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, reflects a deeper national intolerance.
Reacting to the viral face-off at a press briefing in Abuja, Kachikwu said the controversy had exposed deepening national intolerance and a growing tendency to justify illegality once the target is a disliked public figure.
The politician accused a “vocal minority” of driving the outrage, arguing that their reaction was shaped not by the facts of the incident but by longstanding resentment toward Wike.
While describing the uproar as “unacceptable,” Kachikwu urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, saying the behaviour of some senior officials — including the Minister of Defence — suggested they had “taken sides” without proper context or caution.
He said, “Speaking on this odoriferous saga between Wike and Yerima is extremely difficult for me because it is another example of a very vocal minority having its say and its way.
“Everyone tries to avoid this vocal minority, especially when they are baying for blood and in this case, they finally believe they have the minister where they want him – defenceless.
“Today I weep for Nigeria because we are becoming a nation of people fuelled by hate of anything government. They have let their hatred for this man, who is perceived to be a bully and the President’s bulldog, cloud their judgment.”
Questioning what he called selective judgment, Kachikwu argued that both Wike and the naval officer had been provoked during the clash, yet public anger focused solely on the minister.
He maintained that Wike acted in his official capacity as FCT minister and presidential representative, insisting that the officer had obstructed legitimate government work while acting on the instructions of a retired general.
“Can a retired General without a commission give an order superior to that of a serving minister? Does the military code of conduct supersede the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” he asked.
The clash between Wike and Yerima during an inspection at a disputed plot of land in the Gaduwa District of the FCT — captured in a viral video — has triggered nationwide debate over civil-military relations, rule of law and institutional hierarchy.
The Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru and the Minister of State, Bello Matawalle, both called for restraint as the controversy continues to polarise public opinion.
