Sorry, Not Sorry: In Defence of Wike’s Defiance -By Ebikila Kwokwo

Let’s cut through the noise for a minute. Everyone’s getting worked up over the wrong thing. They’re fussing about a few harsh words while missing the whole point of what went down. What we saw wasn’t just a minister losing his temper; it was a man staring down the barrel of pure intimidation and refusing to flinch.

I’ll be straight with you, Nyesom Wike’s language was rough. Calling that officer a fool wasn’t pretty. But since when did we become so delicate that we value politeness over principle? We’re talking about a scene that plays out across this country in quieter ways: uniformed power flexing on civilian authority. And most times, civilians fold. They bow, they negotiate in whispers, they look the other way.

But not this time. Wike stood there and did what the common man wish they could do. He looked that officer in the eye and drew a line. He didn’t back down; he didn’t defer. At that moment, it wasn’t just about a piece of land in Gaduwa. It was about who gets to call the shots in a democracy. Are we ruled by law, or by rank? One would ask.

Sincerely, how many of us have had to deal with someone hiding behind a title or a uniform to bend the rules? How many times have we seethed quietly, wishing just once someone would speak up? Well, someone finally did. Loudly, messily, but he did it.

So yeah, you can focus on the insult if you want. For many Nigerians, the episode is symbolic. A civilian minister just showed that you don’t have to bow to a uniform to do your job. He stood his ground and, in doing so, stood for something a lot bigger than himself. And for that, he’s got my respect. Sometimes, you need a little noise to shake things up. And today, Wike made enough noise for everybody.

Whilst we won’t stop thanking the military for their service, they should be reminded that non-adherence to basic development laws will not be tolerated, at least not under Nyesom Wike’s watch in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ebikila Kwokwo
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
ebikila.kwokwo@gmail.com