By Obinna Uballa
The controversy surrounding the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a Commissioned naval officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, has continued to generate attention, with former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd), warning that disrespecting uniformed personnel amounts to undermining the authority and sovereignty of the Nigerian state.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the national dialogue on Media, Terrorism and National Security during the 21st All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC 2025), Irabor said public debate over the incident had “missed the real issue,” stressing that uniforms worn by military and security officers represent national power, not the individuals wearing them.
“The uniform is not about who is wearing it; it represents the authority of the state,” he said, as captured in a video circulating on social media. “Whether it is a small boy or not, it is the authority of the State. It is even worse when it is a commissioned officer who has a presidential commission. So when you make such disparaging comments, you have desecrated the oath.”
The retired general, who led Nigeria’s Armed Forces from 2021 to 2023, criticised sections of the public commentary for focusing on the land ownership dispute, insisting that the central question was respect for state authority.
According to him, even in cases where uniformed officers act outside their mandate, citizens are required to follow laid-down procedures rather than resorting to confrontation.
“…the uniform itself must be respected. That’s what sustains order in a civilised society,” he stated.
He further emphasised that under military law and general legal principles, establishing wrongdoing requires examining both actus reus (the act) and mens rea (the intent). Irabor argued that commentators who justified the minister’s behaviour on grounds of land administration authority failed to consider the broader legal and civic implications.
“So when a SAN says that the minister has authority over land, and that it is not the duty of a soldier… That is not the issue,” he said. “If you have any reason to believe that what the young man was doing was wrong, there is a channel. That is rule of law. This is what the media must try to highlight.”
He warned that normalising hostility toward security personnel could erode public order.
“We cannot afford to give a wrong impression so that tomorrow somebody will see a military man and think it is right to slap him. It is not a jungle,” Irabor said. “Me as a general, I cannot slap my soldier. I can’t touch him. If I do, it is either I apologise to him or I will be disciplined.”
Describing Nigeria’s civics orientation as weakened, he lamented that “even primary and secondary school pupils” no longer learn basic civic duties, including respect for uniformed institutions.
Meanwhile, reacting to insinuations of a personal rift with the military, Wike on Thursday dismissed social media reports claiming hostility on his part, but maintained that he would not accept intimidation.
The clash between Wike and Lt. Yerima reportedly followed a disagreement over a piece of land in Abuja.
