Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has condemned the recent confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Naval officer in Abuja, calling it a glaring example of Nigeria’s weakening governance culture and a threat to democratic norms.

Frank described the incident, where a senior minister berated a uniformed officer during an enforcement operation, as more than a lapse in judgment. He called it a symptom of arrogance and moral decline within the Tinubu administration.

“This episode exposes a leadership culture where power is exercised without restraint, and political loyalty trumps accountability,” Frank said.

Highlighting a pattern of behaviour, he added: “Since taking office, Wike has acted as if the FCT were his personal domain. His abrasive style, disregard for court orders, and contempt for opposing voices make a mockery of public service.”

As ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, Frank expressed alarm over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued silence, warning that failing to discipline the minister signals that some officials are “above the law.”

“Tinubu’s refusal to publicly reprimand Wike emboldens impunity and sends the message that loyalty to the President outweighs loyalty to the nation,” he said.

Frank praised the Naval officer’s composure under provocation, urging public recognition of the officer’s professionalism:

“The officer’s calm, disciplined response exemplifies patriotism and respect for uniform. Such conduct deserves commendation and, in any just society, national honours.”

He also linked the episode to Nigeria’s international image.

“Incidents like this reinforce the perception, once voiced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, that Nigeria is a ‘disgraced country.’ Leadership failures like this only deepen that view,” he said.

Warning of the broader consequences, Frank said: “Unchecked arrogance and impunity at the top threaten our democracy and erode public trust. A society cannot thrive when ministers act with impunity and the President looks away.”

Frank concluded with a call for decisive leadership.

“Authority must come with humility; enforcement must come with respect. Leadership is not intimidation. Nigeria stands at a moral crossroads. The President’s silence cannot endure,” he warned.