The Senior Special Adviser on Publicity and Communication to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has said that not every instruction from a superior should be obeyed, especially when it is unlawful.
Olayinka made the statement on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, while reacting to the recent clash between his principal, Nyesom Wike, and some naval personnel over a disputed piece of land in Abuja.
Recall that on Tuesday, Wike and some officials of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) reportedly clashed with soldiers who blocked access to a parcel of land during an inspection exercise. The confrontation sparked tension and public debate over jurisdiction and authority within the FCT.
Reacting to the development, Olayinka said the incident reflected a larger problem of disregard for lawful procedure in Nigeria.
He stated, “Not all orders are meant to be obeyed just because they come from your superior, except they are lawful. We got what happened yesterday because of the way we operate in this country — zero attitude to compliance. That’s what we are, and it’s painful.”
His comments have since stirred conversations online, with many Nigerians calling for clearer boundaries between military operations and civil authority in the nation’s capital.
