Wike Deserves Unconditional Apology From Nigerian Navy, Says PANDEF President

By Preye Bagou, Yenagoa

Press Interview Report: Minister Wike Deserves National Apology For Being Prevented From Performing His Duties By Naval Officer On Illegal Duties Over A Land Under Investigation By Federal Capital Territory Development Authority.

The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, has condemned in strong terms of the behavior and conduct of the Naval Officer, Lt. AM Yarima, who had a confrontation with the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, over a disputed landed property.

Ambassador Igali who was on his way out of the Port Harcourt International Airport to Lagos, while speaking to newsmen on the public altercation between the minister and the junior naval officer, described the actions of the naval officer as unlawful to be acting on orders over a property under investigation by the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCTDA).

Ambassador Igali expressed serious reservations over the rising social media glamorization 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 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.

“Chief 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 junior naval officer was not just affront to FCT Minister as a personal but an open show of disdain for the office of the President, whose powers, vested in the FCT Minister, was so publicly ridiculed and national opprobrium.

The South-South geopolitical zone leader held the view that the minister 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 an act outside its core mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

“The act of using of using ordinarily innocent junior military personnel to performing illegal duties like watching over unoccupied personal lands or the like must not be tolerated, irrespective of the self restraint of the latter,” he added.

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.

The elder statesman said the investigation 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.

He furthermore 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.

~ Hot News Reporters