Osita Chidoka Demands Apology from Wike Over Confrontation with Military Officer
Former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka has called for Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to issue a formal apology following his public confrontation with a military officer in Abuja. The incident, which occurred Tuesday at a disputed land site, has sparked concerns about proper governance protocols and respect for state institutions.
Heated Exchange Goes Viral
A viral video circulating on social media captured the tense moment when military personnel prevented Minister Wike from accessing a contested property. The footage shows the FCT minister engaged in a heated argument with an officer, raising questions about appropriate conduct for government officials.
Chidoka Condemns Minister’s Approach
In a strongly worded statement, Chidoka characterized Wike’s behavior as unacceptable and fundamentally at odds with democratic principles. The former minister argued that Wike’s decision to personally confront military personnel represented a significant departure from established governance norms.
“Any law enforcement officer, whether in uniform or plain clothes, embodies the authority of the president and the sovereignty of the Nigerian state,” Chidoka asserted. “To verbally abuse such an officer is to undermine the very foundation of our Republic.”
Institutional Authority Versus Personal Impulse
Chidoka emphasized the critical distinction between institutional power and personal authority in a constitutional democracy. “In properly functioning democracies, power flows through established institutions, not through individual impulse,” he noted. “Regardless of how justified a grievance might be, a minister cannot transform into an enforcer—this violates the core principle of ordered government.”
The former aviation minister questioned why Wike chose direct confrontation over established channels of communication. “If the soldiers’ deployment was indeed improper, the appropriate response would have been to contact the Minister of Defence, who oversees the Armed Forces,” Chidoka explained. “Public confrontations with military personnel only serve to erode institutional respect and create unnecessary tensions.”
A Matter of Democratic Principles
The incident has broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic development, Chidoka suggested. When senior government officials bypass established protocols, they risk normalizing behavior that weakens the very institutions they’re meant to uphold. The call for an apology isn’t merely about personal conduct but about reinforcing the principle that no individual, regardless of position, stands above the institutions of state.
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