By Comrade Timothy Odedina
In the past 24 hours, a video has ricocheted across the Nigerian media space, capturing a tense standoff between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, and a military officer, one Captain S. Y. Yerima. What has been more disturbing than the incident itself is the bewildering public reaction. I have watched with profound dismay as a staggering 98% of the online commentary celebrates the officer’s act of insubordination, cheering him for “standing up” to a minister they perceive as domineering.
This collective celebration is not a victory for the common man; it is a tragic symptom of a national malaise where sentiment trumps the rule of law, and populist outrage blinds us to fundamental constitutional principles. We have become so dumb and blind to administrative processes that we champion actions that erode the very foundations of our democracy. 
Let us be unequivocally clear: the military officer acted wrongly. His obstruction of the Minister was not an act of heroism; it was a flagrant violation of the law and an affront to the authority of the civilian government.
The Law is Not Sentimental
When you listen to educated and conscious Nigerians dissect this issue, you see the clear difference in perspective. They go beyond the surface.
But let’s be clear, the real outrage here is not just the how, but the why! Why is a serving officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces even present at that site, carrying out the private, domestic errands of a retired General?
We are in the middle of a raging inferno of insecurity! Our citizens are being kidnapped and killed on highways and in their farms, and we have officers strong-arming civilians over a piece of land for a privileged few?
This begs a more terrifying question: How many other serving soldiers and officers are currently deployed as domestic staff, farm managers, and personal security for the elite? How many are serving individuals instead of the nation?
Imagine it! While Nigeria bleeds from countless security wounds, the very forces funded by the public purse are being privatized for the comfort of a powerful few. It is a monumental betrayal of the Nigerian people.
We pay the bills. We entrust them with our safety. And this is how our trust is repaid? This impunity must end!
The legal position is unambiguous. Section 11 of the Land Use Act (Cap L5, LFN 2004) empowers the Governor, or in the case of the FCT, the Minister, to “enter upon and inspect any land held under a statutory right of occupancy at reasonable hours of the day.” This power is not a suggestion; it is a statutory mandate. The occupier of the land has a corresponding legal duty to grant access. Any obstruction is, therefore, a clear breach of this law.
By refusing the Minister entry, Officer Yerima and the personnel under his command acted ultra vires (beyond their powers). They had no legal authority to countermand a statutory function. The Land Use Act is not a mere policy document; it is a fundamental law with constitutional backing. No internal military memo or “order from above” can legally override an express provision of an Act of the National Assembly.
The Supremacy of Civilian Authority is Sacrosanct
This incident strikes at the heart of our democratic order. Section 217(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that the Armed Forces shall be “subject to the authority of the civil power.” This is the bedrock of our system: the military is subordinate to the elected civilian government. The President of Nigeria is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Minister Wike, in this context, is the direct representative of the President in the FCT.
For a military officer to physically impede a Minister in the lawful discharge of his duties is not just disrespectful; it is unconstitutional and insubordinate. It creates a dangerous precedent that suggests military authority can be placed above civilian authority. Are we, as a nation, so forgetful that we are yearning for a return to a jackboot era? Nigeria is not a Hobbesian state where might is right. We are a constitutional democracy governed by laws, not by the whims of men in uniform.
Personality is Not the Issue; Principle Is
I understand that Nyesom Wike is a polarizing figure. Many Nigerians have strong, often negative, opinions about his style of governance. However, we must divorce the personality from the principle. The rule of law admits no exceptions based on popularity. Whether you love Wike or loathe him is legally irrelevant. The office he occupies and the statutory power he wields are what matter.
If an allotee—be it a serving General, a retired Admiral, or any citizen—is dissatisfied with the revocation of a land title, the path to redress is clearly mapped out: they must go to court. The law courts are the arbiters of such disputes. Sending armed soldiers to block a ministerial inspection is not a legal remedy; it is an act of impunity. The individual who gave that order, if identified, should be arrested and face the full wrath of the law—be it a court-martial if serving, or prosecution if retired.
A Call for Collective Sanity
We must collectively preserve the dignity of our military by insisting that it remains in its constitutional lane, subordinate to civil authority. The culture of using soldiers as muscle to intimidate government officials and frustrate lawful processes is a gross abuse that must stop.
While Minister Wike’s outburst may have been intemperate, we must ask ourselves: how would we react if we were lawfully carrying out our duties and were obstructed by armed personnel acting without legal justification? The provocation was immense.
The 98% celebration is a national embarrassment. It reveals a citizenry that is quick to blame the government for failures but is equally quick to champion lawlessness when it aligns with their biases. Tomorrow, we will be the first to condemn the government for not functioning, forgetting that we cheered the very actions that cripple it.
Let us get this clear: nobody, no matter their rank or status, has the power to prevent the enforcement of a lawful action. To argue otherwise is to advocate for anarchy. We must choose: do we want a nation governed by laws, or a nation governed by the strongest force? The path we cheer for today will determine the Nigeria our children inherit tomorrow.
Comrade Timothy Odedina is a public affairs analyst and social commentator.
