Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Dubem Kachikwu has warned of the danger of what he described as a growing culture of impunity and unequal application of the law following the dramatic confrontation between FCT officials and soldiers guarding a disputed plot of land in Abuja.
He addressed journalists during a press conference on Friday, stressing that the incident represented more than a political quarrel between Minister Nyesom Wike and a retired military officer.
“What happened is not about personalities. It is about the Constitution being trampled upon in broad daylight,” he argued.
Kachikwu revealed that he had faced a similar challenge with FCT development authorities in the past but chose the lawful path.
“When they said my people gave me wrong information, I simply forwarded every document to them,” he explained. “I didn’t call any minister. I didn’t know anyone. I let my papers speak.”
He contrasted that experience with the current standoff, warning that Nigerians were cheering an illegality because of political bias, forgetting that the precedent could later harm ordinary citizens.
‘What Kind of Country Creates Two Sets of Laws?’
Kachikwu questioned why a former service chief would deny the authority of the FCT minister in public, even though the same minister chairs the FCT Security Council.
He described the soldiers’ refusal to grant access to development officials, even Chief Wike, sitting as the Chief Security Officer of the FCT as an alarming breach of democratic norms.
“How does a decommissioned officer give orders to someone still in uniform, when that uniform represents the President of Nigeria?” he asked. “Where does military authority end and where does civilian authority begin?”
"I Weep For Nigeria Because We Are Becoming Nation Of People Fuelled By Håte"
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) November 14, 2025
-Man Lashes Out Buratai, Matawalle Others Criticizing Wike Amids Recent Drama With A Navy officer Over Land Dispute pic.twitter.com/9hHsyL9jgi
The young politician and businessman criticized comments suggesting the FCT minister should have contacted the Chief of Defence Staff before enforcing normal regulatory duties.
“Why must a minister seek clearance from the military to do his job?” he queried. “If it were one of us—ordinary civilians—they would demolish our houses within an hour.”
He warned that Nigerians were failing to recognize the booby trap that lay ahead: “We are being told that there are big men and small men in this country, and different laws apply to both. That is dangerous.”
‘This Is How Democracies Collapse — Slowly, Through Applause’
According to Kachikwu, letting military personnel obstruct civil authorities sets a precedent that could enable more abuses. He questioned why the public outrage was selective, noting that two policemen killed by soldiers in Anambra State during November 8 state election barely attracted such strong reactions.
“Everybody is jumping on what seems popular,” he said. “But is what is popular always right?”
He added that the disputed land was designated as park and communication land with no valid documentation and could have been amicably addressed if the retired general had simply contacted FCT authorities like any other resident facing land fraud.
Kachikwu urged Nigerians to focus on the implications for the rule of law: “When you cheer illegality because you don’t like a minister, you are sanctioning every illegality that could be used against you tomorrow.”
Kachikwu closed the briefing with a warning that Nigerian democracy cannot survive if the military begins to test the boundaries of civilian authority.
“We are in a civilian dispensation,” he stressed. “If soldiers can block a minister today, what stops them from blocking you tomorrow?”
He postulated that if he ever found himself in the position of the FCT Minister and he did not get the full backing of his boss (the president) he would have to quit the job.
“If my colleagues want to rubbish me for carrying out my duty, let them do it. I will not join illegality,” making allusions to criticisms of the FCT Minister made by his counterparts in the Defense Ministry.
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