“I Am Not a Fool” – Lt. Yerima’s Calm Response to Minister Wike Nyesom, Nigerians Hail Lt. Yerima’s Courage During Heated Exchange with Minister Wike Nyesom
From Confrontation to Commendation: Calls Grow for National Award for Lt. Yerima”
On 11 November 2025, at a site in Gaduwa District, Abuja, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Wike Nyesom confronted Lieutenant Yerima Ahmad amid a dispute over land access.
According to reports,minister Wike Nyesom demanded to see documentation for the land, declaring:
“You cannot continue to act with impunity … You will never develop this plot. I will never allow it.”
In response, Lt Yerima stood his ground and is quoted as saying: “I am not a fool, sir. I am an officer. I take orders from a three-star General.”
The Cause of the issues which minister Wike Nyesom described as an illegal development.
The confrontation stemmed from an alleged illegal development at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, which is said to be linked to retired Chief of Naval Staff Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) claimed the area is a designated buffer zone with no approved development permit, and that its field officers were blocked by armed personnel from entering the site. Minister Wike Nyesom asserted that the development was illegal and that no valid documents had been submitted, while Lt. Yerima insisted everything was acquired lawfully.
Following the exchange, minister Wike publicly reiterated his stance:
“You are going to encroach on somebody’s land… Nobody does that.”
He framed the matter as part of a wider crackdown on land-grabbing in the FCT, emphasising that even high-ranking persons are not above the law.
Praise for Lt Yerima and National Award Calls
Actress Yvonne Jegede took to social media to hail Lt Yerima, describing him as
“the face of a new Nigeria… Thank you for restoring my faith. Thank you for giving us hope as a nation.”
Others joined in the applause, media commentator Rufai Oseni wrote:
“That officer deserves a national award. Calm, firm, and collected while minister Wike Nyesom was busy behaving like a TikTok skit maker.”
“At that moment, minister Wike Nyesom went low and the officer went high.”
The Coalition of Military Veterans also declared that the Minister’s conduct was “disgraceful and unbecoming of a public office holder.”
Legal commentary and action
Senior Advocate Kunle Edun stated that the Minister’s insult of a uniformed officer in public was “an assault on the dignity and nobility of the legal profession.”
He noted Lt Yerima has the right to initiate a civil action for defamation and unjustified public insult.
Conversely, constitutional lawyer Sebastine Hon argued that Lt Yerima’s action obstructing ministerial access was itself a breach of the law, saying a junior officer cannot refuse access on the basis of “orders” that may be manifestly unlawful.
Profiles of the two people at the center of everything
Lt A.M. Yerima Ahmad, a commissioned officer in the Nigerian Navy, reportedly deployed in the Special Boat Service (SBS) and recognised for professionalism, integrity and calm under pressure. His name went viral following the November 11, 2025 confrontation with Wike.
On the other side, minister Nyesom Wike:– Born on 13 December 1967 in Rumuepirikom , Rivers State. Minister Wike Nyesom is a lawyer-turned-politician who served as Governor of Rivers State (2015-2023) and was appointed Minister of the FCT on 21 August 2023. He holds the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Accolades and criticism
The incident triggered a strong wave of reactions across social media and civil society. Many praised Lt Yerima for standing firm, linking his conduct to institutional integrity rather than personal bravado.
Others criticised minister Wike Nyesom for perceived abuse of power and disregard for due process.
Student body National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the minister’s conduct, saying it was “unbecoming of a public official.”
Hero in uniform
Furthermore, the confrontation between the FCT Minister and the naval officer encapsulates more than a land dispute, it represents a clash of power, principle and public perception.
While minister Wike Nyesom asserted his civilian authority and duty to enforce land governance, Lt Yerima’s composure and refusal to be intimidated won him national admiration.
In this framing, the calls for a national award for Yerima appear grounded in his display of discipline, restraint and professional conduct under pressure. The episode serves as a reminder that leadership is tested not just by rank, but by how one treats others in the exercise of power.
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