By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Wednesday, reiterated his love and respect for Nigeria military, while insisting the right thing must be done.

He stressed that no nation can succeed by allowing impunity and lawlessness.

The FCT Minister stated this in Abuja, while addressing journalists in response to his recent  confrontation with  military.

He added that it is quite unfortunate that Nigerians trivialize things.

He explained that when he discovered FCT officials were being attacked and intimidated, he needed to visit the site.

According to Wike, “I cry for this country because it is quite unfortunate, either we trivialize everything that happens, either we bring religion to it, or the class you belong to. No country can ever succeed if we continue to allow impurity, lawlessness.

“No country, no matter how hard you work, you allow impurity, you allow lawlessness to continue to prevail, that country will never, never, never grow. Even amongst government officials, not to talk about private individuals. I have read comments”.

He agreed that he has offended lots of politicians politically but has no regrets about it. “Yes, I have wounded people politically, I have no regret about it. And I will continue to wound them where necessary. Yes, people are not happy about it.

“So when things happen like this, you see all manner of things people will say. I was watching Channels Television late last night. I saw a lady and a man, you see, sometimes you just shake your head .

“Laziness, people don’t read, people don’t investigate. I saw the lady say ‘Wike has met his match’. You don’t want to find out what really happened.

“What was the point? How can I sit down as a minister, and  government officials have been attacked,  picked up, to the level of directorship.

“Then I’m sitting in my office doing what?. How will such officials carry out their functions again? When they know their principal and their boss cannot protect them. Not as private individuals”.

He said lot of dignitaries even a former head of state, president have called him over land issues in Abuja and he resolved them.

“And all these people never sent soldiers to harass officials, 

“General T Y Danjuma will call you. Look at this and and this. These are people, they are all retired generals, these are people with discipline.

“They didn’t bother because they were former chief of army staff, former presidents. They never sent soldiers. They never sent anybody to go and attack anybody. 

“And  I tell them, sir, don’t worry, I will sort out the problem and I will do. I haven’t even talked about other people who are highly placed, they will come to you. Mr. Minister, maybe we didn’t know of this. If we knew, we would have done it”.

He said; “You are told to obey legal orders, not orders that are illegal. So, if, because you are a security aide, to say, your superior ordered you shoot at someone, you think you will not be charged for murder, because your superior gave you the order?

“People have problems. We have tried to resolve them, but don’t use intimidation, don’t try to weaken government. You cannot weaken government. Because when we allow this now, others will follow suit. And then they will say, when it happened to this and that, what did you do?

“So, gentlemen, I have respect for the military. I will continue to respect them. So, anybody trying to bring collision there, to say, oh, he is having a problem with the military, it is not correct, I don’t have a problem with the military and I will not have a problem.

“If we are having a problem with military, I know where to run to. If I don’t to Chief of Defence Staff, I will go to Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of Naval Staff, or Air Force, or Chief of Defence Intelligence, I will go to the president. 

“But in this case, it had to do with a private individual. So, how many people would I run to? If you, you have a problem with us, I will run to president? Who does that? So, all I will be telling the president every day, this individual is having a problem with us, this individual is having a problems. So, I don’t have a problem with the military, ” he said.

Wike, however, said the issue had been blown out of proportion by those bent on portraying him as being at loggerheads with the military.

He maintained that he only intervened after top officials of the FCTA were assaulted while carrying out their officials duties, saying that as a minister, he won’t sit in his office while those working with him are being attacked. 

He recalled that when the police had similar issue, he personally visited the site where buildings were being constructed under the powerline, and the Inspector-General of Police ensured the stoppage of the construction. 

He said the FCT Administration’s duty is to protect the integrity of Abuja’s master plan and ensure that all developments conform with approved land use provisions.

According to him, those who obtained land for agricultural purposes but later converted it to residential estates or commercial ventures without approval would be made to face the law.

“Government cannot function in a lawless society. If we allow one person to violate the rules because of who he is, others will follow. That is how impunity begins. We must learn to obey the law irrespective of who is involved”, he said.

Wike condemned media reports that suggested his comments or actions were targeted at security agencies, urging journalists to verify information and avoid sensationalism. “Report us accurately. Do investigative journalism. Don’t twist facts or take statements out of context.”

Recalling instances during his tenure as Rivers State governor when he personally intervened to prevent security operatives from violating citizens’ rights, Wike said his current actions were consistent with his belief in lawful governance.

He added that those accusing him of high-handedness simply misunderstood his resolve to do what is right.

He said leadership often requires taking tough decisions that may not please everyone. “You can’t make everybody happy, even in your own house. But once your conscience is clear that you are doing the right thing, you stand by it,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s vision of restoring order and sanity to the nation’s capital, promising that enforcement against illegal developments, land grabbing and violations of the Abuja master plan would continue without compromise.

“As long as I remain FCT minister, the law will take its course. Abuja must reflect the image of Nigeria – disciplined, planned and lawful,” Wike declared.

I mean, anybody should know.  Yes, you are a young man, yes, you are a commissioned officer, Mr I am  a minister and I’m representing Mr. President that alone should have given you that decorum. But no, no you choose to challenge the minister representing the president.

“And then you think that I am not a human being, I have no emotions. You are carrying out an illegal job. When people say, order, do you need to carry out to illegal. When you are an officer you are doing something illegal. Even if it’s a legal order given to you, that job you are doing is illegal. Even as an institution not private, they arrested officials, I say how? I went there by myself and I said no, no, no.

“Nobody is going to do anything. Even when you take action.”