A Nigerian legal practitioner has offered a controversial perspective on the viral confrontation between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer, challenging the widespread public celebration of the officer as a hero.
Legal Practitioner Questions Officer's Hero Status
Barrister Firsts Baba Isa has strongly criticized the narrative surrounding Naval Officer A.M. Yerima, who gained internet fame after a heated exchange with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike at a property in Gaduwa, Abuja on Tuesday. While many Nigerians praised the officer's conduct during the face-off, the legal expert presents a different viewpoint that has sparked intense debate.
The incident occurred when Minister Wike was prevented by soldiers from accessing a piece of land in the Gaduwa area of Abuja, leading to a tense confrontation that was captured on video and quickly spread across social media platforms.
Constitutional Duties Versus Private Security
According to Barrister Isa, the naval officer deserves no hero status for abandoning his constitutional responsibilities to guard property belonging to his former boss. In a detailed Facebook post, the lawyer expressed disappointment that Nigerians were celebrating a military officer for protecting private land in a city where many citizens struggle to afford basic housing.
The legal practitioner emphasized that land ownership disputes are purely civil matters and questioned why armed naval personnel were involved in determining and protecting property ownership. He contrasted the situation with other countries where military personnel achieve hero status for defending territorial integrity rather than performing private security duties for former superiors.
Mixed Public Reactions to Legal Opinion
The barrister's position has generated diverse reactions from Nigerians. Some social media users supported his viewpoint, with one commenter noting: "I am sincerely happy with the fact that I finally saw someone with a Facebook verification blue tick that has the same opinion on this matter like me."
However, others defended the military officer's actions, with one respondent stating: "U also know that in military there's what is called order and u must obey it to the later, the officer was carrying out an order and he did that perfectly well sir, is part of his job."
Meanwhile, APC Chieftain Joe Ibokwe has called for the dismissal of Lieutenant Yarima, describing his conduct as disrespectful to constituted authority. This development adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the incident that has captured national attention.
