Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 General Election, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Naval officer, describing it as a mirror of Nigeria’s deepening institutional decay and disregard for due process.
Obi said the confrontation, which has stirred public outrage, was not merely an exchange between two individuals but “a reflection of how public power and civic duty have lost the discipline of law and order.”
In a statement titled “Wike versus Naval Officer: A Lesson for National Reflection,” the former Anambra State governor on his X handle lamented that what should have been a routine encounter has, once again, become a national embarrassment.
“What should ordinarily be a simple civic exchange has become a national spectacle — a reflection of how far we’ve drifted from institutional order and respect for procedure,” Obi said.
He questioned the growing trend of using military personnel for civil operations and the frequent intrusion of political officeholders into matters that should be handled by defined protocols.
“Should the military be used for purely civil operations? Should a Minister’s intervention occur in such an indecorous manner? Why are our uniformed men and women constantly drawn into civilian disputes?” he queried.
Obi stressed that when public officials act beyond institutional norms, they not only weaken governance but also erode citizens’ trust in the system.
“If our institutions worked as they should, would tempers flare in situations that hierarchy and clear procedure ought to resolve?” he asked, warning that the lack of civility in public service sends the wrong signal to the younger generation.
He called for urgent steps to restore discipline, humility, and respect for due process in public life, saying the country cannot aspire to greatness while tolerating the culture of impunity.
“A nation that feels insulted when called a disgraced country must first learn to replace impunity with order, law, and respect for institutions,” Obi said.
The Labour Party leader emphasised that leadership titles such as His Excellency, Distinguished, and Honourable must be reflected in both conduct and character, not just office.
“To occupy an office and be referred to by such titles, how we attain and conduct ourselves in or out of it must reflect those values,” he said.
Reiterating his message of institutional rebirth, Obi urged Nigerians to see the incident as a call to rebuild a country where institutions are stronger than individuals.
“We must learn from this episode. A new Nigeria — one anchored on discipline, humility, and respect for the rule of law — is still possible,” he concluded.
