The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has released a cryptic message following a clash between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and some soldiers in Abuja.
In a flyer shared on X on Tuesday, the DHQ stated that it is an honour to serve in the Nigerian military.
The flyer reads: “It is an honour to serve in the Nigerian military. Unshaken. Unbent. Unbroken.”
The image shows Nigerian military personnel in camouflage uniforms standing with hands clasped in front, wearing wristwatches and dog tags. A bold white text overlay reads: “It is an honour to serve in the Nigerian Army. Unshaken. Unbent. Unbroken.” Watermarks at the bottom include the Defence HQ logo and the text “DHQ Nigeria Defence Headquarters Nigeria.”
On Tuesday, Wike was involved in a heated argument with military personnel at the site of a disputed plot of land in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In a video clip circulating online, the Minister can be seen arguing with soldiers over access to a property within the territory. The confrontation occurred when Wike and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) attempted to gain entry to the disputed land, allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).
In the footage, Wike is seen exchanging words with uniformed soldiers guarding the site, insisting that the developers lacked valid ownership or building approval. When one of the soldiers resisted his directive, the visibly angry minister said:
“Shut up! Keep quiet! You are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school. You send soldiers to intimidate who? We are all from this country. If not for the CDS who spoke to me now, you would have to kill everybody here.”
The incident has divided public opinion and sparked debate about military-civilian relations in Nigeria’s democracy.
Reacting to the development, former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai urged Wike to apologise to the officer involved and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a “verbal assault.”
However, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe called for disciplinary action against the soldier who argued with Wike.
In a Facebook post, Igbokwe expressed outrage over the confrontation, demanding that the soldier’s uniform “be removed” for what he termed an act of insubordination.
“Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable. His uniform has to be removed,” Igbokwe wrote.
What do you think the military’s cryptic message means for civil-military relations in Nigeria? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
