The Land, The Law, and Our Love for Drama: A Minister vs The Uniform.

By: Barr Alex Ehi Aidaghese

Preamble

We celebrate defiance before we verify the facts. Until we learn to separate emotion from evidence, our outrage will continue to be misplaced.

A viral act of defiance has Nigerians cheering, but what if the “celebrated hero” was defending illegality? Beyond the spectacle, the land dispute between a minister and a young officer tests how much we truly value truth, law, and accountability.

Facts and Defiance

It happened again. A young officer stood up to the Minister Nigerians love to hate—and the internet erupted in applause. In minutes, he became a symbol of courage and resistance.

Encouraging? Yes. But before we join the chorus, we must ask the questions that truly matter.

How was the land in question acquired? Was the Minister acting within his powers, or did he cross the line? And more importantly, does the officer who claims ownership have a valid, legally registered title?

This isn’t about defending or condemning either side. It’s about confronting a national weakness—our habit of reacting to emotion instead of evidence. We debate the drama and ignore the details that define justice.

What if the supposed hero never acquired the land through due process? What if, without knowing it, he was defending illegality? These are not comfortable questions, but they are necessary ones.

Verifying land titles isn’t rocket science. It requires only diligence, integrity, and a respect for the rule of law—values that seem increasingly scarce in our public space.

This is where the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) must step in. Both institutions owe the nation a duty to clarify the facts: Did Minister Wike act within his authority? And does the officer’s claim to ownership stand on solid legal ground?

Conclusion

Until those answers are found, the real story isn’t about bravery; it’s about truth. And in a country that too often celebrates defiance before due process, the truth may yet be our rarest form of courage.

 

Mr Alex Ehi Aidaghese is a lawyer and legal consultant who writes on governance, natural resources, and public policy. He contributed this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.
November 12, 2025