A Nigerian Catholic priest has offered his perspective on the recent heated exchange between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer, commending the military man for showing remarkable composure during the confrontation.
Priest Applauds Officer's Professional Conduct
Reverend Father Oluoma, in a detailed Facebook post, specifically praised Naval Officer A.M. Yerima for maintaining his cool despite facing significant provocation during the incident that occurred on November 13, 2025. The priest emphasized that the officer deserved recognition for not reacting violently when the situation became tense.
"Kudos to the young soldier for at least keeping his cool to the extent he did," Father Oluoma wrote. "I think he deserves to be patted on the back for not doing anything stupid under the provocation by insult. Nothing is as good as seeing a fine soldier exhibiting fine manners, keeping calm under heated atmosphere."
Questioning Wike's Approach to Resolution
The Catholic clergyman suggested that Minister Wike could have handled the situation differently to avoid the public confrontation. Based solely on the viral video clip he watched, Father Oluoma noted that the officer was simply following orders from his superiors when he prevented the minister from accessing the contested property.
"At that point, I think the honorable minister could have called his bosses or go back and return another time after sorting the issues with the relevant authorities," the priest stated. He particularly criticized Wike's decision to engage in verbal exchange, describing the minister calling the soldier "a fool" as "uncalled for but reckless."
Support for Land Recovery Despite Personality Issues
While analyzing the specific incident, Father Oluoma made it clear that he supports Minister Wike's broader mission to recover illegally allocated lands in Abuja. The priest stressed that this support should be based on principle rather than personal liking for the minister.
"As Minister of the FCT, Wike should be supported to retrieve any land usurped by anybody, it is his constitutional duty and must be supported," Father Oluoma asserted. However, he added the caveat that the process should not be conducted "haphazardly and crudely."
The priest expressed amusement at people celebrating the confrontation as some form of divine punishment for Wike, describing such attitudes as "emotional addiction to pyrrhic victory." He maintained that constitutional duties should be separated from personality conflicts when assessing government officials' performance.
The incident has continued to generate significant public discussion across Nigeria, with many citizens and commentators weighing in on the proper conduct expected from both public officials and military personnel during such confrontations.
