The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Forum (PANDEF), Amb Godknows Boladei Igali, on his way out of the Port Harcourt International Airport to Lagos, spoke with newsmen on the ongoing national hysteria following the public altercation between the Hon. Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike and a naval officer, now identified as Lt AM Yerima, said to be acting on orders over a property under investigation by the FCT.
Amb Igali, expressed serious reservations over the rising social media glamourisation of the grossly improper conduct of the junior naval officer, allegedly acting on the orders of a retired Service Chief, who ordinarily ought to know better that the Honourable Minister deserves his due respect as a member of the Federal Executive Council and a direct representative of the President, over all matters relating to the Federal Capital Territory directly under his purview.
“Barr. Wike, CON, without doubt, one of the best performing Ministers in this administration, deserves to be treated with much more respect and decorum”, the one time Federal Permanent Secretary and Diplomat, lamented.
Ambassador Igali emphasised that the unacceptable behaviour of the naval officer was not just affront to the FCT Minister as a person but an open show of disdain for the office of the President, whose powers, vested in the FCT Minister, was so publicly ridiculed.
The South-South geopolitical zone leader held the view that the Minister of the FCT deserves an unconditional apology from the leadership of the Nigerian Navy on behalf of its former Head and the harpless young officer involved in the horrible spectacle, which was an act outside its core mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country. The act of using innocent junior military personnel to performing illegal duties like watching over unoccupied personal lands or the likes must not be tolerated, irrespective of the self restraint of the latter.
Ambassador Igali further called on Mr. President to direct the respective security and law enforcement authorities to fully investigate the incident and bring those involved to book. This, he said, will preserve the professionalism in the military and guarantee respect for constituted civil authority, which is the most basic foundation for building a stable, virile democracy where the law rules at all times.
Furthermore, Amb. Igali insisted that the person of the FCT Minister must be fully protected from such overzealousness, as he continues to carry out his assigned duties with personal passion and zeal.