The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive investigation into the recent confrontation between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Naval officer A.M. Yerima.
PANDEF's Strong Reaction to the Incident
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the apex socio-political body of the South-South geo-political zone strongly condemned the naval officer's action of preventing Minister Wike from accessing a land in Abuja. Ambassador Godknows Igali, the National Chairman of PANDEF, declared that Wike deserves a national apology for being obstructed from performing his official duties.
PANDEF emphasized that the FCT Minister must be fully protected from such overzealous actions as he continues to carry out his assigned responsibilities with personal passion and dedication. The organization described Yerima's conduct as "an open show of disdain for the office of the President", whose powers are vested in the FCT Minister.
Calls for Accountability and Respect
The forum insisted that those involved in the incident should be brought to justice and that the Nigerian Navy leadership should issue an unconditional apology on behalf of its former head and the junior officer involved in what they termed a "horrible spectacle."
PANDEF expressed serious concern about the use of junior military personnel for illegal duties such as guarding unoccupied personal lands, stating that such practices must not be tolerated regardless of the personnel's self-restraint. They maintained that these actions fall outside the Navy's core mandate of protecting Nigeria's territorial integrity.
Mixed Reactions and Ongoing Investigation
The incident has generated diverse reactions across the country. While PANDEF has thrown its weight behind Minister Wike, former military generals have criticized the minister for his public confrontation with the naval officer during the land dispute in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru has confirmed that the federal government has launched an official investigation into the clash. Retired military officers and legal experts remain divided on whether Wike's actions were lawful or constituted a breach of civil-military protocol.
Adding to the discourse, former Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo criticized the confrontation, stating that such an incident would not occur in any sane society. The naval officer involved claimed to be acting on orders from former Chief of Naval Staff Awal Gambo when he engaged the minister in a heated argument and prevented Wike and his team from accessing the property.
