A viral video showing a heated exchange between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Lieutenant A.M. Yerima has ignited widespread debate across Nigeria, drawing attention to issues of power, respect, and generational dynamics in public service.
The confrontation, which has dominated social media discussions since the footage emerged, featured Yerima calmly resisting a series of verbal outbursts from Wike. In the video, the young officer repeatedly responded, “I am not a fool, sir,” after the minister’s harsh remarks — a statement that many Nigerians have interpreted as a symbol of principled defiance against political intimidation.
Prominent public affairs commentator, Farooq Kperogi, weighed in on the controversy, describing the altercation as a clash between “an unstoppable force and an immovable object.” According to him, Wike’s “boisterous, venomous-tongued cantankerousness” met its match in Yerima’s “respectful but firm resistance.”
“Yerima’s defiance transcended a mere retort,” Kperogi wrote in his analysis titled ‘Three Quick Thoughts on Wike and Yerima’. “It communicated dignified restraint and courage in the face of ministerial arrogance.”
He noted that Yerima’s composure reflected the values of discipline and confidence often nurtured from youth, describing his stance as “polite, cordial, and conciliatory — yet firm.”
Kperogi also used the incident to revisit what he called Nigeria’s “culture of reverse ageism,” where older individuals often dismiss younger voices based solely on age. He recalled his 2022 article titled ‘Reverse Ageism as a Tool to Gag Criticism in Nigeria’, in which he criticized the notion that authority should be determined by age rather than competence or intellect.
Quoting his earlier piece, Kperogi said, “Only backward minds invoke age to delegitimize valid criticism that they can’t confront with logic and evidence. Anyone over the age of 25 is a full-grown adult.”
The scholar argued that Wike’s remark describing Yerima as a “small boy” who was in “primary school” when he graduated illustrated this same mindset.
While opinions remain divided, many Nigerians online have praised Yerima for his courage and composure. Others say the exchange highlights a growing generational shift, where younger officers and professionals are increasingly asserting themselves against entrenched displays of political power.
Analysts believe the confrontation may serve as a broader metaphor for Nigeria’s evolving leadership culture — one that pits old-style authoritarian bluster against a new ethos of measured confidence and mutual respect.
