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THE WIKE–ARMY CONFRONTATION: A DEMOCRACY TESTED BY OLD HABITS
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Abuja, Tuesday 11 November 2025 –
The dramatic face-off between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and a junior military officer in the Gaduwa district of Abuja has once again exposed the lingering shadow of military impunity that still hovers over Nigeria’s democracy. More than twenty-five years after the nation’s return to civilian rule, Nigerians should not still be subjected to the spectacle of uniformed men confronting elected or appointed civilian officials in the line of lawful duty. That dark era of decrees and intimidation should have been long buried with the departure of military rule in 1999. Yet, what the country witnessed on that fateful Tuesday was a confrontation that symbolised a troubling question: Are we truly free of the vestiges of military arrogance?
Let us be reminded that the Minister was not visiting a barracks, nor encroaching upon a restricted zone. He was performing his duty within the constitutional boundaries of the FCT Administration — an office that directly represents the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To obstruct him was not to challenge Mr. Wike the man, but to defy the office of the President and the authority of the Nigerian State.
“Even if you are a lieutenant-general or vice admiral, the government must function according to law,” Wike reminded them.
The junior officer’s refusal to allow the Minister access to government-controlled land, and the arrogance with which he responded, was an act of insubordination dressed in khaki. Nigeria’s Constitution leaves no ambiguity: the military is subordinate to civilian authority.
There must be clarity about where true authority lies. Nyesom Wike has been a Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff, two-term Governor, Minister, and is presently the President’s appointed representative in the nation’s capital. The retired General allegedly connected to the disputed land may have worn stars on his shoulders, but no number of medals elevates one above the laws of the Republic. As for the young Lieutenant who confronted him — by service equivalence, he ranks at best with a local councillor, certainly not a peer of a federal minister. When such a junior officer obstructs the lawful work of a minister, it is not only bad conduct; it borders on institutional rebellion.
The broader concern is the creeping return of militarism into civil space. On the roads of Abuja, citizens still endure the swagger of armed men who treat uniforms as licences for lawlessness. The Gaduwa episode was therefore not an isolated quarrel — it was a symbol of a deeper problem: the failure of some officers, serving and retired, to mentally demobilise from the habits of absolute power. If democracy must survive, discipline must begin from the barracks. The Chief of Army Staff and the Defence Headquarters owe the nation an inquiry and, where necessary, disciplinary measures. Silence in the face of such misconduct only emboldens future defiance.
The land at the centre of the dispute reportedly links to retired top officers and large-scale private development. If that claim is true, it raises critical questions: Was the plot legitimately allocated? How did a public green zone become a private estate? What is the source of the funds involved? These are not questions of sentiment but of transparency and accountability. The FCT Administration must publish a detailed account of the land’s ownership and revoke any illegal claim. Impunity, no matter the rank of those involved, must not be permitted to thrive.
Those cheering the officers for confronting Wike should reflect on the dangerous precedent it sets. Today it is Wike; tomorrow, it may be a governor, a minister, or any civilian official. A nation that normalises defiance against constituted authority invites chaos. Wike represents the President; thus, to insult or obstruct him in his lawful duty is to insult the office of the Commander-in-Chief himself. This was not merely a personal affront; it was an institutional challenge that touches the very soul of Nigeria’s democratic order.
Nigeria must draw a line between military service and civil governance. The military’s nobility lies in its obedience to lawful authority, not in defiance of it. We must resist any drift back to the era of decrees and intimidation. The rule of law must be upheld — not by words but by consequence. The FCT incident should serve as a reminder that power in a democracy is not measured by rank but by constitutional mandate. Those who bear arms do so under the authority of the Republic, not above it. No Nigerian, big or small, soldier or civilian, should ever stand in the way of lawful governance. This confrontation must be treated not as a spectacle but as a warning — that the endurance of our democracy depends on everyone, in and out of uniform, submitting to the rule of law. The Constitution, not the gun, remains the ultimate authority in the Republic.
Perspective from Ayanfejesu Kiaz
But honestly, wit the kind of citizens we are, we don’t deserve a better nation.
Our sense of right and wrong changes wit our emotions and who’s involved.
When the powerful use soldiers outside their lawful duty to oppress ordinary citizens, we all shout, protest, and cry foul.
But now dat those same soldiers are being used to intimidate the FCT Minister, the chief executive of the capital city, from doing his lawful job, suddenly, bcos you dislike Wike, the soldiers have become heroes
Not in our Constitution or the Military Act dat says soldiers have any role in land protection or civil disputes.
This selective outrage is our real problem.
When wrong becomes right bcos it favors our bias, the nation sinks deeper.
In the end, we’ll all be alright, just not as we handle situations.
© Ayanfejesu Kiaz
More than ₦3 billion was targeted, but about ₦677 million reached the culprits, with recovery and prosecutions underway, reflecting how banks are responding to more sophisticated fraud risks.
Nigeria’s expanding digital banking sector is facing increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts, as financial institutions adapt to faster transactions and broader online services.
A recent case involving First City Monument Bank (FCMB), linked to fraudulent activity detected in December 2025, has drawn attention to how banks are responding to such incidents, with a focus on limiting exposure, recovering funds and working with law enforcement.
According to findings referenced in proceedings before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, the incident involved unauthorised transactions tied to a digital product. Early reports erroneously suggested more than ₦3 billion was lost. Subsequent clarification shows that over ₦3 billion was targeted, ₦2.4 billion was blocked and recovered, while ₦677 million got into the possession of the culprits. This outcome reflects the bank’s cyber security and monitoring capabilities, as well as improved collaboration among regulated financial institutions and with law enforcement agencies. Several suspects and beneficiaries have been apprehended, while recovery and prosecution efforts are ongoing, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Proceedings at the Lagos State Special Offences Court have resulted in convictions, including that of a repeat offender, with restitution orders issued. Related matters are also being handled at the Federal High Court in Lagos, where additional suspects are being tried in connection with the scheme. This process is aimed at ensuring that bad actors are identified and permanently blacklisted from the financial system.
Authorities say recovery efforts are continuing as additional funds are traced.
Analysts note that the pace of legal action reflects closer coordination between financial institutions and enforcement agencies in addressing cyber-related financial crime.
The case comes as banks contend with more complex fraud methods, including social engineering and automated exploitation of system processes.
As digital products and platforms expand, so too does the risk associated with cyber-crime and related fraud.
“The scale of digital banking means risks are evolving alongside the systems,” said a Lagos-based financial analyst. “Institutions are now judged by how they manage these events.”
Observers say the sector is moving toward a stronger focus on response and recovery, rather than prevention alone.
This includes improving monitoring capabilities, strengthening transaction controls and enhancing collaboration with regulators and law enforcement. The FCMB case, with limited exposure relative to the amount targeted and ongoing recovery, reflects that shift.
For customers, the primary concern is the safety of their funds. In this case, there has been no indication of losses affecting customer deposits. Maintaining that level of protection remains central to sustaining trust in the financial system.
Nigeria’s financial sector continues to grow, supported by digital innovation and expanding access to banking services.
However, analysts say fraud attempts are likely to persist as systems become more complex and interconnected.
They say institutions will increasingly be judged not only on their ability to prevent incidents, but on how effectively they respond and recover when they occur.
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Ex-APC Deputy Guber flag bearer, Joshua MacIver backs Tinubu, express fears over implosion in Bayelsa APC
….congratulates new State Party Chairman, Warman Ogoriba
APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2023 general elections in Bayelsa State, Great Joshua MacIver has declared his total commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu come 2027, declaring that the Tinubu re-election project is non-negotiable.
Great Joshua MacIver, in his statement titled ” BAYELSA APC CONGRESSES: GOING FORWARD, A CALL TO LOOK INWARDS” and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, warned APC leaders in the state to look Inward and take note of certain factors which may hinder or cut short our victory.
According to Great Joshua MacIver, such noticeable pitfalls include the imbalance in the united front being put up by the State Governor,Senator Douye Diri among various political blocs in the state.
In the statement issued at the weekend. Great Joshua MacIver stated that “First, before His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, joined the APC in the state, there were clearly two political blocs that made up the party, with the approximate population ratios of the blocs standing at 95% to 5%.”
“After the entrance of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, ONLY THE SMALLER BLOC IS BEING CARRIED ALONG IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTY, leaving the greater percentage to their fate, and this situation has the potential to build anger and dissatisfaction in our dear party.”
” The consequence of this has been the high level defection we have witnessed in the party recently and we believe more may likely follow, if we do not put our house in order.”
” If we do not pull together as a party, we may witness a situation where we will lose key stakeholders, especially after the State and National Assembly Primaries as well the Gubernatorial Primaries.”
“Finally, while it is very clear that we are the party to beat in the 2027 elections and that our loyalty to Mr. President IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, we must make haste to say that we cannot afford to create situations or loopholes in our unity which will be exploited by other political interests in the state. We cannot afford to under-rate anyone.”
“Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr. President, a project to which we have committed our all. We also pledge our total loyalty to the party as we have no alternative to the APC. However, our concern is that we must, as a party, look inwards and ensure that we do not create loopholes that can impede our common goal.”
Great Joshua MacIver, however congratulated the newly elected State Executives of the APC in Bayelsà State led by Hon. Warman Ogoriba, saying their emergence is welcomed at this critical time in our national history.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com/nigeriabank/personal/products-and-services/all-loans/stanbic-ibtc-mreif-home-loans
More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
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