I have Integrity

Sometimes, one simple sentence can echo louder than a thousand speeches. For me, that moment came when I heard about the confrontation between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and Lieutenant Yerima, a naval officer. In the heat of verbal fire and political arrogance, one man calm, collected, and disciplined. Stood tall and said the words that have refused to leave my mind: “I’m not a fool, sir. I have integrity.”

Those words, to me, sum up what Nigeria desperately needs right now, integrity.

From the reports, the Minister, during an inspection in Abuja, allegedly lashed out at Lt. Yerima, calling him names and questioning his presence at a site linked to a former service chief. But instead of reacting with equal aggression, the young officer held his composure. He didn’t shout. He didn’t insult. He didn’t lose control. He simply reminded everyone, and perhaps the Minister himself, that character is louder than power.

I have to agree with Rufai Oseni of Arise TV, who said that while Wike went low, Lt. Yerima went high. “Power met principle,” Oseni observed, and he was right. That short exchange was not just about a minister and a military officer; it was about two different versions of leadership. One shouted, “Do you know who I am?” while the other quietly showed who he truly is.

Even Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) weighed in, describing Wike’s behavior as “an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure.” He rightly demanded an apology not just to the officer, but to the Commander-in-Chief and the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Because when you insult the uniform, you insult the nation it represents.

Of course, not everyone saw it that way. Lere Olayinka, Wike’s media aide, tried to justify the incident by questioning why the soldiers were at the site in the first place, suggesting that they might have been wrongly deployed. Fair enough procedures in our institutions do need scrutiny. But even if there was an error in deployment, it does not justify humiliation. Respect costs nothing, and it should be given freely, especially to those who serve under the flag.

Then came Joe Igbokwe, who called for Lt. Yerima’s dismissal. To me, that call was not only unnecessary but shameful. Dismiss him for what? For standing his ground with dignity? For showing restraint? For not bowing to power? That, to me, is the problem with our system, we punish integrity and reward arrogance.

Thankfully, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar restored some balance when he declared, “We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him.” That reassurance mattered not just to Lt. Yerima, but to every soldier and civil servant who dares to act with honour in a country where integrity often feels like a lonely road.

To me, Lt. Yerima’s calm defiance was a quiet revolution. He reminded us that discipline is not weakness, that respect is not submission, and that integrity is not negotiable. He stood his ground not for ego, but for principle.

In that single sentence, “I have integrity,” he spoke for every Nigerian who is tired of power-drunk leaders and empty displays of authority. He spoke for everyone who believes that leadership should be about character, not chaos.

So yes, in that Abuja confrontation, Wike had power, but Yerima had integrity. And in the end, integrity will always outlast power.

Share!

 Likes 0