The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) urged the Nigerian Navy to apologize to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for alleged overreach in a land dispute involving ex-Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette. Youth wing leader Doben Donyegha gave a 48-hour retraction deadline, citing threats to regional unity. This ties into broader Wike-Naval officer clashes drawing mixed reactions.
Incident Breakdown: The Gaduwa Land Confrontation
The controversy erupted on November 11, 2025, during Wike’s routine inspection of a disputed property in Gaduwa District, Abuja. Wike, tasked with revoking illegal land allocations under President Bola Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive, arrived with officials to enforce a revocation order on Plot 3113—a 1.5-hectare site originally allocated to the Nigerian Navy but allegedly fraudulently transferred to Ibok-Ette’s family post-retirement in 2021. The land, valued at over ₦500 million, is part of Wike’s ongoing crackdown, which has recovered 1,700+ plots since his 2023 appointment.
Guarding the site were armed naval personnel, including Lt. A.M. Yerima, reportedly deployed on Ibok-Ette’s orders. Yerima confronted Wike, blocking access and ordering his team to leave, leading to a heated exchange captured on video. Wike accused the officer of insubordination, shouting, “Who sent you? This is federal land!” Yerima stood firm, citing “orders from above,” while Wike’s aides called for reinforcements. The standoff lasted 20 minutes, with no arrests, but Wike proceeded to revoke the allocation on-site. The video, showing Wike’s frustration, went viral, amassing 500K+ views on X within 24 hours.
Ibok-Ette, a former CNS (2019-2021) and key Niger Delta figure from Akwa Ibom, has denied wrongdoing, claiming the transfer was legitimate via Navy channels. Sources indicate the plot was meant for a naval memorial but diverted, echoing past scandals like the 2024 Maitama land grabs involving retired generals.
PANDEF’s Strong Stance: Apology and Probe Demanded
In a statement issued November 13 from Port Harcourt, PANDEF National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali condemned the incident as “an affront not just to Wike personally, but to the President’s authority.” Igali, a former diplomat and Bayelsa permanent secretary, praised Wike as “one of the best-performing ministers” for his FCT reforms and demanded:
- An “unconditional apology” from Navy Chief Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla on behalf of the institution, Ibok-Ette, and Lt. Yerima.
- A full presidential probe into the land’s allocation history and the Navy’s role in private security.
- An end to “deploying junior officers for illegal assignments like guarding unoccupied land,” which Igali called unconstitutional.
Igali warned that social media “glamorization” of Yerima’s defiance—trending as #StandWithYerima—threatens institutional discipline and Niger Delta unity, as Wike (Rivers) and Ibok-Ette (Akwa Ibom) hail from the region. “This overzealousness must stop; Wike deserves protection to execute his mandate with zeal.” PANDEF, founded in 2016 to advocate for Delta development, positioned the demand as safeguarding federalism amid rising elite land disputes.
Youth Wing’s Ultimatum: 48 Hours or Escalation
Echoing PANDEF’s call but with sharper edges, Youth Wing National President Doben Donyegha issued a 48-hour ultimatum (expiring November 15) for the Navy to retract Yerima’s actions and apologize, or face “coordinated protests across the South-South.” In a Port Harcourt presser, Donyegha decried the clash as “a betrayal of regional solidarity,” linking it to past PANDEF-Wike tensions (e.g., a March 2025 ultimatum over Ijaw insults). He urged President Tinubu to intervene, warning: “This erodes trust in institutions; failure to act threatens our collective progress.”
Donyegha’s statement, shared via X (@PANDEFYouths), garnered 5K+ engagements, with supporters praising the “youth voice for accountability” and critics labeling it “tribal meddling.”
Mixed Reactions and Broader Context
Public response is polarized. Pro-Wike voices, including Rivers stakeholders, hail PANDEF’s backing as “long-overdue unity,” citing his ₦1 trillion FCT investments benefiting Delta firms. Navy loyalists and retirees defend Yerima as “dutiful,” with #JusticeForYerima posts claiming Wike’s revocations are “politically motivated witch-hunts.” Defence Ministry spokesperson Tukur Gusau stated investigations are underway, but no apology yet.
This incident fits a pattern of Wike’s clashes: a 2024 Army standoff in Asokoro and probes into 500+ elite allocations. In the Niger Delta, it amplifies calls for equitable resource control, as land grabs mirror oil disputes. PANDEF ties it to “elite overreach undermining youth opportunities,” per Igali.
As of November 14, no Navy response; tension simmers ahead of the deadline.
