The viral naval officer who stood his ground against Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has earned praise from an unexpected source - his former secondary school classmate, who revealed the leadership position he held during their school days.
Classmate Shares Untold School Story
Engineer Efinity Ephraim Ejekwu took to Facebook to share insights about Lieutenant Yerima's character, revealing that the officer served as social prefect during their time together at VCC secondary school. The revelation came as the video of Yerima's professional confrontation with Minister Wike continued to trend across social media platforms.
In his social media post, Ejekwu highlighted the significance of challenging someone from Elelenwo, stating: "Away from politics, you hardly challenge an Elelenwo son or anyone born in Elelenwo." He went on to confirm his personal connection to the officer, writing: "Yerima was my classmate back at VCC, and he was the social prefect then. Now he's a celebrity, trending everywhere."
The Viral Confrontation That Sparked Interest
The incident that brought Lieutenant Yerima into the national spotlight occurred when he prevented Minister Wike from accessing a property, citing orders from his superior officers. The naval officer maintained his professional composure throughout the exchange, which was captured on video and quickly spread across various online platforms.
This display of professionalism and dedication to duty resonated with many Nigerians, leading to widespread discussion about military discipline and chain of command protocols. The timing of Ejekwu's revelation about Yerima's school leadership role provided additional context about the officer's character development.
Public Reaction to the Revelation
The Facebook post by Engineer Ejekwu attracted significant attention from social media users, with many expressing their opinions about the situation. Among the notable reactions:
- Adio Kasim expressed happiness upon learning about Yerima's educational background
- Chijioke Happiness commented on the political implications of the confrontation
- David Amadi expressed concern about potential consequences for the young officer
- Engr Saint provided additional background about Yerima's Elelenwo roots and military training
Mara Matt offered particularly strong support for Yerima, stating: "He has always been a coordinated guy back in our school days. I love how he responded to the Port-Harcourt talkative sorry FCT Minister."
The revelation about Yerima's school leadership position adds another layer to the ongoing public discussion about professionalism, military discipline, and the importance of maintaining protocol regardless of political pressure. As the story continues to develop, many Nigerians await further updates about both the initial incident and the officer's background.
