The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that contrary to the impression being created, he has tremendous respect for the Military as an institution, saying his decision to visit the land where he had an altercation with a young Military officer was because his officials were obstructed from carrying out their duties.

Speaking with journalists before a meeting of Executive Council of the FCT, Wike said it was wrong for the former Chief of Naval Staff to deploy serving military personnel to guard a private property.

According to the minister, he has the highest regard for the Nigerian military and understood the importance of the institution, insisting that his confrontation was not with the armed forces but with a private individual.

“I have respect for the military, and I will continue to respect them. I know what the institution stands for. I’m not a fool; I went to school. So anyone trying to suggest I have problems with them is wrong. I have no problem with the military, and I never will. Why would I have issues with the government? But this is a private matter,” he said.

He said what the former Chief of Naval staff ought to have done was to call him so that the challenge on the land would be solved.

“Many influential Nigerians have had similar land issues. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, will simply call me. He’ll say, ‘Minister, I have a problem on this land, can you help?’ and I’ll solve it.

“That is a former head of state — a former president — who has the courtesy to call the minister. General T.Y. Danjuma will do the same. They never sent soldiers to attack anybody. They just call,” Wike said.

The minister said he could not sit idly as a public officer while government officials were being attacked, which was why he went to the site.

“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” he asked

The minister also faulted the naval officer for allegedly referring to police officers on the scene as “bloody police.”

“Nobody talks like that. A security man saying, ‘Bloody police! Who are these bloody police that will talk to you?’ You say you’re a commissioned officer, to God be the glory, but it is these same government officials you’re beating — the ones who made you what you are,” he stated.