By Aderogba George
Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, has urged Nigerians to avoid rising hostility towards public institutions, saying such attitudes could distort facts and undermine due process.
Kachikwu made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday while commenting on the dispute between the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lt. A. Yerima.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lt. Yerima had reportedly stopped the Minister from accessing a parcel of land managed by the FCT Administration.
Kachikwu said reactions to the incident had been influenced by strong sentiments, adding that balanced assessment was needed to avoid escalating tensions.
He said public criticism might have differed if another Minister had been involved, noting that both the Minister and the officer appeared to have acted under provocation.
Kachikwu questioned the limited response to the officer’s reported remark referring to police officers in unflattering terms, noting that respect for security agencies was essential.
He said the Minister was performing his duties as Chief Security Officer of the FCT and should not have been obstructed while carrying out official responsibilities.
Kachikwu argued that directives from retired officers should not supersede the authority of serving government officials under Nigeria’s constitutional system.
He also recalled a previous incident involving his own construction site, where initial misunderstanding led to a stop-work order, which was later resolved after proper documentation was presented to the FCTA.
He said the experience illustrated how misinformation could create unnecessary conflict and called for caution in public commentary on the current incident.
He also expressed concern over what he described as inconsistent responses from government officials, urging greater fairness in addressing security-related incidents.
Kachikwu said selective criticism risked weakening institutional credibility and could encourage future breaches of conduct.
He appealed to Nigerians to avoid actions that could undermine national unity and emphasised the need for respect for established procedures.
Kachikwu called for calm and prayed for peace and stability in the country. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
