Wike Deserves National Apology Over Clash With Naval Officer – PANDEF

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which serves as the foremost socio-cultural and political organization representing the people of the South-South geopolitical zone, has declared that the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, is entitled to receive a nationwide apology because he was deliberately prevented from discharging his official responsibilities by a serving Naval officer and certain other individuals.

In a formal statement issued on Thursday, November 13, the National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately instruct all relevant security agencies and law enforcement bodies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the entire episode and ensure that everyone found culpable is appropriately sanctioned.

Igali maintained that taking such decisive steps remains essential in order to safeguard the highest standards of professionalism within the armed forces and to guarantee unwavering respect for duly constituted civilian authority, which he characterized as the most fundamental cornerstone for constructing a strong, vibrant democracy in which the rule of law prevails without exception.

Moreover, he stressed that Minister Wike must be comprehensively shielded from any further displays of excessive zeal as he continues to execute his constitutionally assigned responsibilities with remarkable personal commitment and enthusiasm.

Ambassador Igali emphatically pointed out that the actions of the naval officer did not merely constitute a personal insult directed at Wike but amounted to a blatant public display of contempt toward the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic, whose authority, delegated to the FCT Minister, was so openly mocked and undermined.

The National Chairman of PANDEF voiced deep concern regarding the growing celebration on various social media platforms of the naval officer’s conduct, especially given reports that the officer claimed to be carrying out instructions issued by a retired Service Chief.

Igali observed that the said retired Chief, by virtue of his previous high-ranking position, should be fully aware that Minister Wike is deserving of the highest level of respect as a distinguished member of the Federal Executive Council and as the direct appointee of the President vested with complete authority over all affairs concerning the Federal Capital Territory.

Igali expressed profound regret, stating, “Chief Wike, CON, without doubt, one of the best performing Ministers in this administration, deserves to be treated with much more respect and decorum.”

“The Minister of the FCT deserves an unconditional apology from the leadership of the Nigerian Navy on behalf of its former Head and the hapless young officer involved in the horrible spectacle which an act outside its core mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of the country.

The act of using ordinarily innocent junior military personnel to performing illegal duties like watching over unoccupied personal lands or the like must not be tolerated, irrespective of the self-restraint of the latter.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli