Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? (2900 Views)
| Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:00am On Nov 12, 2025*. Modified: 9:31am On Nov 12, 2025 |
A whole lot has been said about Wike's Drama with that Navy Officer on a landed property in Abuja Even a former Chief of Army Staff General Buratai (rtd) has weighed in ,calling Wike's action a threat to national security ...This is not the time and place for me to say what I think of General Buratai and his stint as Chief of Army Staff...But i can guarantee you that they are not palatable thoughts...Now the questions that some of us want answers to are these: 1...Does a retired officer (in this case the retired Chief of Naval Staff) have a right to still issue valid orders to a soldier, much less to issue such orders to override a serving Minister of the Federal Republic?..Moreso that the Minister in this case is the Minister of the FCT, who unlike any State Governor, is a direct appointee of the Commander-in-Chief? 2..What is a soldier doing guarding a property that is not a designated property of the Nigerian Armed forces, or even a subject of national Interest, even to the extent of refusing the Chief FCT administrator (A representative of the C-in-C) into said property? 3....As Wike was appointed FCT Minister by the President who is the C-in-C and not elected like other Governors, doesn't that mean he is until proven otherwise, standing in the C-in-C's stead when he went to that property?...Then what right does a retired Officer (regardless of rank held) to issue orders restricting the representative of the C-in-C from entering said property that is neither a military installation or a place of designated security interest? At this point, I think the Armed forces have overstepped their bounds, regardless of Wike's behavior which is a topic for another day...No serving officer, much less a retired one has any right to stand in the way of any representative of the Commander in Chief, as same is tantamount to a coup/Mutiny... What happened yesterday in Abuja to Wike, is to call a spade a spade, a Mutiny directly against the President who appointed Wike to oversee the FCT administration...Simple and Short ...For all intents and purposes it's as if that youngling officer stood in the way of the President when he came to inspect that property.. And Yes... That officer needs to be immediately court-martialled for Mutiny and that his retired oga who sent him dealt with to the full extent of the law...These people need to be made an example of, especially in light of the recent coup allegations flying around... A retired officer's orders overriding that of the President's representative is to say the least, outright madness, which if not nipped in the bud, will set the tone for other officers, retired and serving to question and override functions of the President's Direct appointees, constituting themselves into an authority above even the President |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Ever8090: 7:16am On Nov 12, 2025 |
You don see am naa...... In a nation "No" but in Nigeria "yes".. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Ttalk: 7:17am On Nov 12, 2025*. Modified: 7:35am On Nov 12, 2025 |
That's a very good question. I have taken my time to analyze the unfortunate incident of confrontation between the Minister of FCT and an attached naval staff to a retired CNS. Many commentators have not only erred in their submission but have allowed emotion to dictate their judgement. There are pertinent questions that could informed a better understanding and fair judgement on the matter. If we are to agree that a military officer only obey the order of his superior, won't it be more appropriate to define under what condition such order becomes valid. If it is assumed that a military can break traffic rules while on mission to arrest a bandit, will such order be applicable while such officer is taking his superior child to school,? The scenario at which the altercation occured. is best not in military formal duty and such order must be weighed to comform with the existing rules outside the military formation. It would have been more ingenious for the officer at the point of such stalemate to have seek direct intervention of his superior to engage the minister. Taking a unilateral decision based on order from his boss is not enough ground to remain adamant. Rather than asked Wike to call the CNS, I believe the junior office should have done that instead. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by neonly: 7:21am On Nov 12, 2025 |
A military personal especially the top one always and have a say definitely Why do u think they give them House Cars Steward Adc Those kind of people are taken care for live because of national security info at Der disposal U can't mess with them |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by descarado: 7:26am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Yes especially those at the top. Nothing changes except they are retired and no longer in active service |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:26am On Nov 12, 2025 |
neonly:You have still failed to answer the questions raised? Can a Military officer, retired or not (regardless of rank) override the Commander-in-Chief's direct representative ? Simple and short |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by ambale(m): 7:28am On Nov 12, 2025 |
He who comes to equity must come with clean hands, Wike has been accused of forcefully grabbing peoples properties in time past with the presidency not doing anything and if there's one thing about Nigeria it is precedence After Wike many of those lands he revoked,will be revoked again But my own concern was that he shouldn't have shown up there, meet with the current hierarchy of the military or even involve the president, but he loves to act like no one fit enter am Now them don put an for him body and we are all happy 😁 |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:30am On Nov 12, 2025 |
descarado:That's not the issue at hand In any case if nothing changes for them even after retirement like you said, why are some of them not in Damboa and Baga commanding soldiers facing ISWAP and ISIS? Please let's not start a discussion we cannot finish |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:30am On Nov 12, 2025 |
ambale:Irrelevant to the issues at hand But ok ![]() |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by descarado: 7:31am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:Tell that to the politicians. Has nothing to do with them. The moment the politicians want these to stop, they know what to do especially Mr President. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:33am On Nov 12, 2025 |
descarado:In other words, you have no response to the question That's ok |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Nextjs: 7:34am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:https://www.nairaland.com/8559443/how-fct-minister-wike-revoked |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Brendaniel: 7:35am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:When we tell some of you that the system needs to work for everybody regardless of status, religion or tribe, some of you think we don't know what we are saying.... If you as a human being see no wrong with what Tinubu is doing to Nigerians, what Sanwo Olu and the Yorubas are doing to the Igbos in Lagos, what MNK is going through, what the south east is going through from the northerners and the Yorubas, the brutality of the police and military guys on Nigerians, the illegal EFCC raids on peoples homes in the night whether yahoo boys or not and you are coming to write this, then you are only deceiving yourself... I've said this thing over and over, when you have a system that selects who to work for or against at different times based on whatever reason then that system can equally do the opposite for the same people. Shebi Wike has always been oppressing people even killed youths in his state, the system was in his favour to do injustice to others, now the same system could not fight for him at that point and worked against him. That's why I laugh at those who are laughing at those and mocking those who they rig election against and call them losers or those who laugh at those unjustly arrested for trying to do right thing, tomorrow do they know what that same system the are supporting may do to them? |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by MEGAWATCH: 7:35am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:Before you ask this question, kindly tell us the commander in chief you are talking about? Because if you are referring to the event of yesterday, we all know that Wike is not the commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by helinues: 7:36am On Nov 12, 2025 |
If they are not acting on court order in this case, retired or serving officers order is illegal |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:37am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Nextjs:Irrelevant Until proven otherwise or until the President disowns any such act, all Wike's acts as FCT Minister is done as the President's Direct Representative upon the President's direct instructions Cry to the proper person |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:38am On Nov 12, 2025 |
MEGAWATCH:You obviously failed to read this thread's original post Read it again, with your eyes and brain open If you won't, then you are beyond help |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Justnation: 7:39am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Once a General, always a General. Every military officer retire with their ranks, it is only in operational or administrative situations that they cannot issue a direct command |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:41am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Justnation:In other words they can issue orders against bloody civilians, which even includes the Commander-in-Chief and his direct representatives The truth is finally coming out ![]() |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by JealousCobra(m): 7:42am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Forget grammar, it is what it is , lawlessness by our politicians at it's peak. In as much as I frown at Nigeria military but then, Op ur question should be how did our the C in C got to that position including Wike, if not through mutiny to the conscience of millons of Nigerians.🫤🫤 Abegii. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by MEGAWATCH: 7:43am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:I'm reacting to your statement mentioning the commander in chief, what was the need of bringing it into the discussion? Must you play on people's emotions to have your way? |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:43am On Nov 12, 2025 |
Brendaniel:Irrelevant to the issues raised But ok But to put things back in perspective, Tinubu is still this country's Commander-in-Chief and Wike is his directly appointed representative...So whatever was done to Wike yesterday by that retired CNS and his subordinate was done to Tinubu directly.. That's the purpose of this thread, not all this your distracted ramblings |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:46am On Nov 12, 2025 |
MEGAWATCH:Wike is a direct appointee of the Commander-in-Chief, not an elected official like other Governors...What was done to Wike yesterday was for all intents and purposes, done to the Commander-in-Chief Proceed from that premise and join the discussion... |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by melechpilusof: 7:46am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:Surely, the award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic should amount to something, shouldn't it? |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 7:55am On Nov 12, 2025 |
JealousCobra:Irrelevant But ok |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by BrokenTV: 7:56am On Nov 12, 2025 |
buygala:Wike acted in his own personal capacity, if that is the case all ministers will be giving command to military officers to carry out, military only takes order from their superior hierarchy, the only people that supersides that is the President and Defence chiefs. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by KingAzubuike(f): 7:57am On Nov 12, 2025 |
You don't have to be the one issuing a direct command. You can tell your junior( a commisioned junior to you) your predicament and he will do your bidding. Moreover brig gens and it's equivalent in the airforce and navy always retire with ordelies and details assigned to them for life. You can give them orders. Even retired NCOs like MWO,WO and Sgt can use soldiers to harass you not to talk of a retired General. |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 8:00am On Nov 12, 2025 |
BrokenTV:Wike was acting on the President's instructions until proven otherwise, having been directly appointed by him ... Your Soldiers impeded his function as the C-in-C's direct representative...That's a Mutiny or even treason... Unless you have proof that Wike was not at that land as FCT Minister, please rest |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Richtaiwo(m): 8:00am On Nov 12, 2025 |
If you know the retirement benefits of retired service chiefs, you won't be asking this question. Now, let me answer your question: Yes, the retired naval chief can issue command order to soldiers. If you listen to that clip very well, the naval guy said he was the security officer to the retired naval chief. So who do you think the naval guy and those soldiers get directive from? |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by Dotherightthing: 8:00am On Nov 12, 2025 |
descarado:That's crux of the question @bolded |
| Re: Can a Serving or Retired Officer Countermand the President’s Representative? by buygala(op): 8:01am On Nov 12, 2025 |
KingAzubuike:Yes The Retired Generals can also harass and issue a command countermanding that of the Commander-in-Chief All of una don dey come out gradually ![]() |
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