Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has been criticized by a coalition of Nigerian military veterans over his recent altercation with a naval officer during an enforcement visit to contested land in Abuja.
A video obtained by our journalist showed Wike in a heated altercation with some naval officers at a facility in the Gaduwa area of the FCT.
The minister had gone to the spot as part of an enforcement operation and questioned the presence of military officers who purportedly guarded the land.
In the video, Wike accuses the officers of assisting an unlawful development, while one of the military members claims they were following orders that the land belonged to a former Chief of Army Staff.
The dispute became heated, with Wike apparently using abusive comments toward the officer.
The incident elicited diverse reactions online. While some commenters criticized the officer for confronting a serving cabinet minister, others applauded his actions.
The Coalition of Military Veterans, through its spokeswoman, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, criticized Wike for verbally disparaging the officer during the encounter.
The group stated that a public figure should not use derogatory language toward security personnel doing official tasks.
“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera? If he was responsible, he should have engaged the Chief of Naval Staff privately rather than attempting to disgrace a retired senior officer,” Durowaiye-Herberts said.
He went on to say that a uniformed officer represents the authority of the Nigerian state, and disrespecting such an official undermines public institutions.
The veterans also criticized proposals for disciplinary action against the officer, claiming that such action would be rejected.
“If for any reason the officer is punished, military veterans will occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister,” he warned.
He mentioned that military officers swear loyalty to the country and not to individual public officials and insisted that Wike should apologize to the officer.
“Wike’s action demeans the dignity of the office of a minister. He should apologize for using abusive language. It is not acceptable behavior,” Durowaiye-Herberts added.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
