Prominent Nigerian activist Dele Farotimi has strongly criticized citizens who are celebrating the actions of a naval officer who confronted Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike during a land dispute in Abuja.
The Controversial Land Confrontation
The incident occurred on Tuesday, November 10, 2025, when Minister Wike and his officials attempted to stop a building project on a disputed plot of land in the FCT. The minister argued that the property owners lacked proper documentation for the construction.
However, military officers led by Naval Officer Yerimi prevented Wike from halting the construction, stating they were acting on 'order from above'. This confrontation has sparked widespread debate across Nigeria, with many citizens applauding the naval officer for standing up to the powerful minister.
Farotimi's Critical Perspective
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Farotimi expressed his concerns about the public reaction to the incident. While acknowledging that many Nigerians see Yerimi's 'regimented impunity' as an antidote to what they perceive as 'Wike's madness', the activist urged citizens to consider deeper legal questions.
Farotimi questioned whether the order given to the naval officer was legal under Nigerian law. 'Have you wondered if the order Yerima is obeying is legal?' he wrote. 'If Yerima, Wike, and the officer who gave the order are subject to the rule of law, would the officer be able to order a NAVAL officer to secure a disputed plot of land? What is the role of the courts?'
Broader Implications for Rule of Law
The activist made it clear that his criticism wasn't driven by support for Wike's methods. 'I detest Wike's methods, but my loyalty is to the law and the truth,' Farotimi emphasized.
He drew concerning parallels to other incidents where security forces acted on 'orders from above', including the soldiers who fired shots at the Lekki tollgate and those involved in the December 2015 killing of Shiite group members.
Farotimi expressed grave concern about a society where military personnel could be deployed to settle civil land disputes, warning that this sets a dangerous precedent for the rule of law in Nigeria.
