The media aide to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticized a military officer involved in a recent land dispute confrontation, labeling the officer as "unruly and arrogant" during a television interview.
Land Dispute Background and Allegations
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to Minister Wike, revealed during a Channels TV interview on Tuesday, November 12, that the contested land was originally allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 specifically for park and recreation purposes. According to Olayinka, the company failed to develop the property appropriately since the location falls within a road corridor where construction is prohibited.
In 2022, the company sought approval from the FCT Development Authority to convert the land's purpose from recreational to commercial use. Olayinka alleged that the company began partitioning and selling the land to various individuals, including a former Chief of Naval Staff, even before receiving ministerial approval for the conversion.
Former Naval Chief Allegedly Scammed
The minister's representative claimed that the former naval chief was among those who fell victim to what he described as a scam. "I want to say here that the former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realized that he was scammed," Olayinka stated during the television appearance.
Rather than seeking proper assistance through official channels, Olayinka asserted that the former military leader resorted to using military force to resolve the situation, leading to the confrontation with the FCT minister.
Questioning Military Orders and Conduct
Olayinka specifically addressed the behavior of Lieutenant Yerima, the army officer who challenged Minister Wike during the incident. He questioned the concept of blindly following military orders without considering their legality and reasonableness.
"You obey order yes, but that order has to be lawful. The order has to be reasonable," Olayinka emphasized, providing extreme examples to illustrate his point about the limits of obedience to superiors.
The media aide revealed that Minister Wike had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff both before leaving his office and upon arriving at the disputed land location. From available video footage, it was apparent that the minister attempted to have the military officer speak directly with the defence chief, but the officer reportedly refused to cooperate.
Olayinka concluded his remarks by reiterating his characterization of the officer's behavior as completely inappropriate and undisciplined, despite the military's reputation for strict adherence to protocol and chain of command.
