A close friend and former classmate of the soldier who had a heated exchange with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has broken his silence, sharing emotional memories from their university days.
University Friendship Revealed
The classmate, who identifies as @Nas_kozzo on X (formerly Twitter), posted vintage photographs of himself with the soldier identified as AM Yerima during their undergraduate studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The photos show the two friends during their 100 Level days, revealing a long-standing friendship predating their current careers.
"Today I received so many calls because my best friend in ABU Zaria 100 Level, AM YERIMA (EMDEE), stood his ground against the FCT Minister Wike," the classmate wrote in his emotional post. He added, "God bless and keep you, bro. Nigeria must work."
The Viral Confrontation
The emotional tribute comes just hours after a video went viral showing FCT Minister Nyesom Wike confronting the soldier in Abuja. The incident occurred during a dispute over access to land allegedly belonging to a naval officer.
According to reports, Minister Wike had given an instruction to the military officer, but the soldier reportedly refused to comply, citing orders from his superior officer. This led to a heated exchange where Wike allegedly called the soldier certain names, prompting the officer to respond firmly with statements that nearly escalated the situation.
The video quickly gained traction online, with many Nigerians expressing mixed reactions about the confrontation between the minister and the military personnel.
Social Media Reactions
The classmate's post attracted significant attention, with numerous users flooding the comments section to share their thoughts about the incident and the soldier's stance.
User @Abumazeedah2 commented: "Tell your friend we're super proud of him.. we wish to see him become Chief of Naval Staff in the future In Shaa Allah."
Another user, @FarindokiOmar, noted: "We are proud of him. As I saw the video I said no be EMDEE be that," suggesting they recognized the soldier from earlier acquaintance.
However, not all comments were purely supportive. User @Mohh_nice raised questions about the timing of the tribute, stating: "The struggle of finding that picture in the second frame is real, isn't it? all these years have gone by and it never occurred to you to celebrate him, and now you're scrambling because an opportunity has finally come up."
Other comments revealed more personal connections, with @ArtbyHenngraf recalling: "Dr. Kozzo. You remember Snazzy and Yshayne. That your song that year, 'she say kozzo, what again now? I love the way you go down lowwww.'"
Educational Background Clarified
Some users questioned the soldier's educational background, with @IamChigozie10 asking: "I thought he's from the Academy? Or he didn't graduate with you at ABU Zaria?"
Another comment from @Jameel2024 provided insight into the soldier's academic background, stating: "Na Engine boy na, Metallurgical and materials Engineering my department we stubborn from that department gan," suggesting the soldier studied engineering at the university.
The incident has sparked broader conversations about chain of command, civilian-military relations, and the proper protocols for handling such confrontations between government officials and military personnel.
As the story continues to develop, many Nigerians are watching closely to see if there will be any official statements from either the military authorities or the FCT administration regarding the incident.
