Nothing that has a beginning lacks an end, and no masquerade dances forever in the market square. Time and season inevitably bring every performance to a close. Yet, what truly matters is the turn history takes and the actions or inactions of those on stage when the ovation is loudest.
Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, stands today as a grand political masquerade dancing in Nigeria’s political market square. However, his recent actions and utterances suggest that he has forgotten this truth, gradually stripping himself of dignity, like a masquerade exposing its nakedness before the crowd.
His confrontations with a young military officer in Abuja and his recent derogatory comments about the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, reflect an alarming descent from decorum to recklessness.
During an inspection visit to a location in Abuja, on November 11, 2025, Mr. Wike verbally assaulted Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, calling him “a big fool” simply because the officer refused him access to a restricted parcel of land, an action taken under the superior command of his superiors.
Similarly, during a live interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the Minister referred to Governor Ademola Adeleke as a “dancing governor” and claimed he was “in danger.”
While Governor Adeleke has wisely chosen silence, surrounded as he is by cultured and disciplined aides, the Minister’s behavior toward the young officer paints a troubling picture. When the righteous remain silent, evil continues to thrive. What could be more evil than hurling insults at a symbol of the nation’s peace, unity, and security, the Nigerian military?
The Nigerian Armed Forces is an institution built upon discipline, law, and obedience to the “last command.” Yet, in the face of the Minister’s tantrum, Lieutenant Yerima remained calm, simply explaining that he was following orders and could not grant access to the disputed land because he valued integrity. That single word, integrity, carried a profound weight.
It strikes at the very foundation of what has been going on from the judicial quaters in Abuja to the gathering of Wike’s co-travellers in the PDP who failed to considered what history will say about them as they sow confusion and division in the very party that elevated them to prominence even at the detriment of the ambition of those who see the platform as a path to greatness.
Ironically, the young military officer may lack the wealth and influence Wike commands but greatly cherish his integrity. Unlike Mr. Wike, who after completing two terms as Rivers State governor, still sought to extend his grip on power through political manipulation, arm-twisting his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, with the backing of those who have traded their integrity for political porridge and calculation at the federal and state levels, especially the hallelujah chorus singers that sings his praises in exchange for favor, even if it means earning a dark spot in the pages of history.
No wonder the United States recently returned Nigeria to the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC), a stark reflection of how political decadence and judicial compromise have eroded our national integrity.
Despite clear evidence of the defection of Rivers State House of Assembly members, contrary to constitutional provisions, they were reinstated through judicial and political maneuvering under the guise of a “peace agreement.” This emboldened a culture of impunity and set a dangerous precedent, now manifesting at the national level in Wike’s open disregard for law and authority.
When a serving minister publicly insults a uniformed officer carrying out his lawful duty, it is not merely a personal altercation, it is an assault on the institution of the military and, by extension, on Nigeria itself. Such insolence must not go unpunished.
But can we really expect better from a man who publicly ridicules a sitting governor, calls him names on national television, and faces no reprimand? And continued to gather some members of PDP whose stomachs have replaced their sense of reason, claiming to suspend members of the party’s Board of Trustees and installing new ones, all in a bid to impress those who secured him his ministerial appointment.
Even more troubling is the apparent silence from the Presidency, the President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces who is yet to issue a public statement on the incident since it has happened. This is really disturbing, especially when it has to do with a serving minister under his cabinet because silence in this context, risks being interpreted as approval.
As a matterof fact, a clear presidential statement is urgently needed, not just to protect the fragile relationship between the military and the civil populace but to also send a message to the world that Nigeria is not as lawless as her critics believe and that individuals like Wike, who act without restraint, do not represent the nation’s values.
Though, some have argued that the Minister was merely performing his duties and that the military officer had no business in an estate. Yet, no justification exists for abusive language or public humiliation of a young officer merely following orders. A true leader would have followed the chain of command, lodged a formal complaint, or sought lawful redress, actions befitting a civilized nation.
But, in a country like Nigeria where institutions are weak and power revolves around individuals rather than the rule of law, such misconduct is unsurprising. This is why international bodies often place Nigeria under scrutiny in order to awaken our leaders to the consequences of their behavior.
One can only imagine what the world will be thinking after watching that viral video: a Nigerian minister berating a uniformed officer on duty, while the presidency remains silent.
If Nigeria is to rebuild and return to the path of order, dignity, and progress, our institutions must be strengthened to respect no individual above the law and those entrusted with power must adhere to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the principles of accountability, humility, and service. This is the surest way to restore Nigeria’s image and rescue it from the hands of masquerades who have forgotten that every dance, no matter how grand, must one day come to an end but history will remain forever.
Hon. Femi Oluwasanmi,
Special Assistant to the Governor of Osun State,
Secretary, Ijesa South Special Assistants Forum,
Admin., Osun State Special Assistants Forum
12th November, 2025.