Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, the naval officer who recently gained national attention, has stirred fresh conversations online after reacting to the appointment of retired Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, as Nigeria’s new Minister of Defence.
Yerima’s comment, made on his X account, has sparked debate about hierarchy, authority, and the relationship between military leadership and political power.
In his post, the officer wrote: “Understand that a General can become a Minister. But a Minister can never become a General.”
The statement, though brief, triggered thousands of responses as Nigerians interpreted it in different ways.
Many observers linked the comment to Yerima’s previous encounter with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The timing of the message further fueled opinions that the officer was throwing subtle shade at the FCT minister.
Yerima’s name has remained in public discussions ever since the viral video where he stopped Wike from entering a disputed land site in Abuja.
In the footage, the naval officer calmly blocked the minister, insisting he was acting strictly on orders from his superiors.
Despite visible frustration from Wike, Yerima refused to step aside. His firm posture and calmness won him praise from many Nigerians, who viewed him as a symbol of discipline and respect for military command structure.
Nigerians on social media immediately took sides. Some argued that Yerima was simply emphasizing respect for military structure. Others felt he was indirectly responding to the Abuja confrontation.
A few commenters even suggested that the officer’s post was a reminder that military rank carries responsibilities and achievements that cannot be politically acquired.
Recall that POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported Yerima’s confrontation with Minister Wike at the Abuja land site, where the officer insisted that he could not violate orders from his superiors despite pressure from the minister.