Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to publicly apologise to the law enforcement officer he allegedly verbally abused.
Chidoka said public officials must exercise authority through proper institutional channels rather than through personal confrontation.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Chidoka emphasised that every officer of the state, whether in uniform or plain clothes, represents the President and the Nigerian nation. “To insult such an officer is to erode the authority of the Republic,” he said.
He criticised Wike’s decision to personally intervene at a disputed site, describing it as a “fundamental misstep.” According to Chidoka, effective democratic governance relies on strong institutions and established legal procedures, not on direct confrontations or roadside orders by ministers.
Chidoka further warned that engaging in a public argument with security personnel undermines the chain of command, weakens discipline, and disrupts institutional order.
“An officer’s duty is to follow instructions through established authority lines, not respond to roadside directives. A minister’s duty is to use lawful procedures,” he stated.
He also faulted the conduct of the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives attached to Wike, noting that their role is to de-escalate conflicts and protect their principal, not to aggravate tense situations. “Security operatives must always remember that their allegiance is to the Nigerian state, not individuals,” he added.
Describing the confrontation as a lesson in leadership and governance, Chidoka said the incident undermines the dignity of the ministerial office and projects a negative image of public service.
He concluded by urging Wike to apologise to the officer involved, saying that such behaviour is “unacceptable and beneath the standard expected of a public servant.”
