Asari Dokubo slams military officer over clash with Wike, demands court-martial

Asari Dokubo slams military officer over clash with Wike, demands court-martial

Former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has condemned the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some military officers over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja, describing the incident as “uncalled for” and a breach of protocol.

The altercation reportedly occurred when a senior Naval officer, said to be acting on the orders of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.), prevented the minister and officials of the FCT Administration from accessing the contentious property.

Reacting to the incident in a Facebook video on Wednesday, Dokubo said the officer’s conduct was unacceptable and called for his reprimand and court-martial by relevant military authorities.

“I’m not taking sides with Wike; I’m taking sides with the law, the rule, and convention. What happened yesterday — in any sane society — that person would be reprimanded and detained,” Dokubo said.

He emphasized that the minister, by virtue of his office, is constitutionally recognized as the chief security officer of the FCT, second only to the President in the capital’s security hierarchy.

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“The confrontation with the military man and the Minister of FCT is uncalled for. The Minister is the governor of the FCT and constitutionally the chief security officer outside the President of the city of Abuja,” he added.

While clarifying that he holds no personal allegiance to Wike, Dokubo insisted that the officer’s actions undermined civil authority and should not be tolerated in a constitutional democracy.

“I might not like Wike — our relationship has had its ups and downs — but in any sane society that fellow ought to have been court-martialled. It can’t happen anywhere outside Nigeria,” he stated.

He further noted that no individual or institution is above the law, stressing that property development in the FCT must follow due process and laid-down regulations.

“A military man is subject to the constitution; he is not above it. If Wike himself didn’t go there, people would say government officials don’t take their work seriously,” Dokubo said.

Defending Wike’s decision to personally visit the site, Dokubo added that the minister acted within his executive authority and that no public officer should tolerate such defiance from subordinates.

“In an executive system of government, the bulk stops at the table of the executive officer. I didn’t see anything wrong in the Minister going there. Nobody can accept that sort of affront from someone who, by law, ought to see you as his superior,” he concluded.

Asari Dokubo slams military officer over clash with Wike, demands court-martial