By Anietie Akpan
Former Aide to former Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Mr. Austin Ibok has condemned recent outbursts by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike against a military officer, saying “it is an act of reckless display of arrogance and disrespect for the Military”.
Ibok in a statement dropped in a social media (WhatsApp) platform, “Rabbit Punch” and “News and Leisure” on Tuesday said, “Minister Nyesom Wike has once again demonstrated an unacceptable level of impunity and recklessness unbecoming of a public officeholder”.
He said the Minister’s recent outburst against a military officer “is a blatant abuse of power and a show of arrogance that undermines the integrity of our armed forces, men and women who risk their lives daily to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interest.
“It is shameful that a minister in President Tinubu’s cabinet would descend to such a level of public misconduct, addressing a gallant military officer in a demeaning and insulting manner”.
He said, “Wike’s behavior reflects the height of political banditry, a dangerous mix of ego and authoritarianism that has no place in a democratic government.
“Nigeria must not tolerate this growing culture of impunity. No minister, no matter how powerful, should be allowed to treat our security personnel or any citizen with such disrespect. Wike is not the only minister in Tinubu’s government, yet he behaves like an emperor of the universe. This is not leadership, it is sheer madness, a shameful act that brings disrepute to the APC-led administration.
“It is time for Nigerians to stand up and reject this abuse of power before it corrodes the very foundations of governance and democracy in our nation”.
Another contributor (Ekpenyong), commended the action of the young officer saying, the young officer conducted himself well and “showed respect to the minister”.
He said, “the officer displayed professionalism. The minister was overzealous in his conduct as if the whole world was in his pocket”.
Relying on an Efik proverb, the contributor stated, “Our Calabar people have an adage, ‘Obong otomo Ebefa, Ebefa otomo Obong translates to meaning ‘as the king expects respect, he too must give respect to the other person’. There is reciprocity of respect”.
However another contributor who simply gave his name as Omluabi, rose in defense of Wike saying, the land use Act where lawyers heavily relied upon states : “For any transfer of a right of occupancy (e.g., sale, mortgage, lease), the governor’s consent is required by law. Without it, the transaction is null and void”
He said, “we criticise the government on daily basis, shouting good governance and great country but here we are clapping and supporting madness”.
He queried why a former military officer used soldiers to prevent government agents from doing their job and some are clapping for them.
“Many don’t know what it takes to build a country that works. Many of us desire a country that works on paper and not in reality.
“They will not quote any Provisions of law with regards to land which stipulates any provision since this Wike showdown began… They only mock and grin. Why? Because We all believe it’s Karma working against Wike…”, he added.
