Prominent lawyer and social critic, Dele Farotimi, has added his voice to the heated national debate following the recent altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian soldier in Abuja.
In a thought-provoking post shared on his official X handle on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Farotimi observed that Nigerians’ reactions to the incident reflect deep-seated resentment toward political authority and a collective yearning for justice, even when expressed in misplaced applause.
He wrote “Nigerians will applaud anyone and anything that discomforts their oppressors. They reflexively applauded Trump, fraudulent patriotism be damned, and now they applaud Yerima’s regimented impunity, as an antidote to Wike’s madness.”
The post came amid widespread social media discussions over a viral video showing Wike in a heated confrontation with a soldier who reportedly prevented him from accessing a disputed property in Abuja. The exchange, which quickly escalated into a shouting match, has drawn mixed reactions, with some citizens criticizing Wike’s approach, while others hailed the soldier for standing up to perceived abuse of power.
Farotimi’s statement, characteristically layered with social critique, suggests that many Nigerians no longer view such confrontations through the lens of legality or decorum, but rather as a symbolic victory against years of political impunity and elite arrogance.
By referencing past instances, including the way some Nigerians once cheered the U.S. President Donald Trump for defying global norms, Farotimi highlights what can be called the reactionary instinct of a people long wounded by bad governance.
As reactions to the Wike-soldier clash continue to ripple across the country, Farotimi’s remarks have reignited discussions about power, public perception, and the moral contradictions of a society that celebrates defiance only when it embarrasses the powerful. View, More,
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