Issue of the nation

 This is difficult to say, but it must be said.

To the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle:

Yes, it is valid to say that Nyesom Wike could have approached the situation with more composure. That is understood. But the nature and tone of the statements now coming from your offices raise deeper concerns that cannot be ignored.

However, the level of energy, urgency, and unity with which some of you are moving to defend a military officer who was reportedly guarding the private property of a retired Naval Chief presents an unsettling optic. It suggests that this incident may be opening a door for interests that have long been waiting for an opportunity to indirectly challenge the authority of the President or embarrass the government he leads.

Let us be reminded: Wike is your colleague in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet. Matters like this can, and should, be discussed within the internal mechanisms of government.

Governance is not a one-man affair. It is collective responsibility.

Yet the reactions seen publicly create the impression that the Yerima–Wike encounter has suddenly become a platform for ventilating deeper frustrations or long-standing disagreements, frustrations that should not be allowed to destabilise the unity within the cabinet.

Gen. Tukur Buratai, a respected elder statesman, has a long history of national service. But even his quick alignment in defence of Lt. Col. Yerima gave many Nigerians pause. It suggested a sentiment that may have been avoidable at such a tense time.

It is important to note what the law says:

Under the Armed Forces Act of Nigeria, every retired military officer, unless officially recalled, is considered a civilian and fully subject to civil laws.

Lt. Col. Yerima, based on available information, was not on active duty defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria. He was assigned to the private property of a retired officer — a civilian.

This makes the argument of “acting under orders” highly contestable. The legal interpretation here is not as simple as some are claiming.

Furthermore, the manner in which some people are rushing to defend this scenario without considering the constitutional implications shows how emotion can overshadow objectivity, especially in a politically charged environment.

Here is a moment of sober reflection:

President Bola Tinubu has made bold decisions since taking office, decisions that unsettled entrenched interests across various institutions. There have been quiet grievances.

The Yerima–Wike incident appears to be exposing some of these underlying tensions. And that is why the nation must be vigilant.

Nigeria’s security architecture is too strategic, too sensitive, and too central to national stability for any ambiguous signals, internal fractures, or emerging fault lines. Something about the overall picture does not feel right, and it is important that the government handles this matter decisively, calmly, and with utmost clarity.

These are not easy points to raise. But these are not easy times. We must speak with caution, truth, and responsibility.

If you must comment on this post, please read it carefully and understand the context first.

This is a moment that demands calm, maturity, and genuine national interest.