Okay, so this Wike-Naval officer thing… it’s gotten some traction, hasn’t it? A lawyer, First Baba Isa, weighed in, and his take is… well, not exactly celebratory of the officer. Let’s unpack this a bit.
First off, you’ve probably seen the clip. Wike, now FCT Minister, and Lieutenant Yarima. A disagreement. Public. Tense. I mean, viral videos rarely show anyone in their best light, right?
Now, Isa’s point, as I gather it, isn’t really about the legality of the situation per se. It’s more about the optics, the principles. He was disappointed in how Wike addressed the officer, who he claims was following orders. The lawyer argues that the Minister, who represents the Commander in Chief, diminished the honor of the armed forces by publicly berating an officer. It’s a power dynamic thing, isn’t it?
The lawyer suggests Wike should have handled it with a phone call, you know, escalated it through the proper channels. Avoid the spectacle. Is he wrong? Maybe. But it brings up a fascinating question: how should powerful figures interact with those just doing their jobs, especially when there’s a conflict?
Then there’s the land issue. All land in a state, which includes the FCT, is technically under the Governor’s (or, in this case, the Minister’s) control, held in trust. Immense power there. Seeing it wielded like this… that’s what seems to bother the lawyer. It raises questions about appropriate use of authority. Doesn’t it?
But here’s where it gets interesting. Isa explicitly says the officer isn’t a “hero.” Why? Because, in his view, naval officers aren’t heroic for guarding fancy properties for their ex-bosses. Ouch. Is he suggesting the officer was misusing his position? It’s certainly implied. So, it moves away from Wike’s conduct, and throws the conduct of the officer into the spotlight.
This makes you wonder, doesn’t it? How do we define “heroism” in public service? Is it simply following orders, even if those orders seem… questionable? Or is there a higher calling, a responsibility to challenge things that don’t sit right?
Food for thought. Definitely food for thought. Where do loyalties lie? What does duty mean in this context?
