Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has criticised the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Naval officer in Abuja, describing it as a disgraceful display of arrogance and a reflection of the country’s declining governance standards.
Frank, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the episode — in which the minister was seen publicly rebuking a uniformed officer during an enforcement exercise — exposed the growing culture of impunity within the President Bola Tinubu administration.
He said the incident was “not just an act of poor judgment but a manifestation of the arrogance and moral decline that continue to define the Tinubu administration.”
“This unfortunate episode goes beyond one man’s temperament. It represents a deeper rot in our leadership culture, one where power is exercised without restraint, and where political loyalty now outweighs accountability,” he said.
The former APC spokesman accused Wike of displaying a consistent pattern of disregard for due process and open hostility toward opposing views, saying his conduct is unbecoming of a public servant.
“Since assuming office, Wike has carried on as though the FCT were his personal fiefdom. His abrasive style of governance, marked by disregard for court orders and contempt for opposition voices, makes a mockery of public service,” he added.
Frank, who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, expressed concern over what he described as President Tinubu’s troubling silence on the matter. He warned that the President’s failure to act could embolden further acts of impunity within the administration.
“President Tinubu’s refusal to publicly caution or reprimand Wike has emboldened impunity and reinforced the perception that political expediency comes before good governance.
“It tells Nigerians that loyalty to the President is more important than loyalty to the country,” Frank said.
He commended the Naval officer involved in the altercation, describing his composure and professionalism as worthy of national recognition.
“The Naval officer’s composure in the face of provocation reflects the highest ideals of service, patriotism, and respect for uniform.
“In any decent society, such conduct would earn him commendation, perhaps even national honours,” Frank stated.
The activist lamented that the minister’s outburst, coupled with the President’s silence, had once again subjected Nigeria to international ridicule.
“Incidents like this reinforce the unfortunate perception once voiced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who described Nigeria as a ‘disgraced country.’
“While Trump’s rhetoric was harsh, this kind of leadership failure gives weight to that label,” he said.
Frank further cautioned that unchecked arrogance and abuse of power among public officials could undermine the country’s democratic values and erode citizens’ confidence in leadership.
“A democracy cannot thrive where arrogance is rewarded and accountability ignored.
“When ministers act with impunity and the President looks away, it weakens the moral fabric of governance and invites chaos,” he cautioned.
He urged President Tinubu to act decisively by calling Wike to order and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to discipline, humility, and respect for institutions.
“Authority must come with humility; enforcement must come with respect. Leadership is not intimidation.
“Nigeria stands at a moral crossroads between arrogance and accountability. The President’s silence cannot endure,” he said.
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