Respecting The Military And Its Members Is Synonymous With Respectig The Country And Its President!
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Thursday, November 13, 2025
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our beloved master Muhammad, the last of Prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
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Respected brothers and sisters! I hope when you discover that a person you meet served in the military you always thank them for their service to the nation.
Now everyone understand that the prevailing view among the many views we have is that respect for the military and its members is closely tied to national respect and patriotism, given their commitment and willingness to sacrifice their lives for the country. Disrespect toward them is often seen as a sign of disrespect for the institutions they represent.
No doubt, the military deserve the support and encouragement of all Nigerians for their sacrifice to the nation.
Respecting the military and its members is synonymous with respecting the country itself because soldiers are seen as defenders of the nation’s peace, freedom, and security. This perspective highlights the sacrifices service members make and views respect for them as a civic duty and a sign of patriotism, as their actions are directly linked to the country’s well-being.
Soldiers are seen as the protectors of the country against external threats, and their willingness to risk their lives is a core reason for public respect.
Service members make personal sacrifices for the safety and freedom of their citizens, which is viewed as a debt of gratitude from the populace.
Showing respect to the military is considered a way for citizens to show support for the nation as a whole and for the ideals it stands for, making it an act of patriotism.
Respect is seen as crucial for military effectiveness, discipline, and morale, which are vital for the army’s success in its mission to protect the country.
Also disrespecting the nation’s military is synonymous with disrespecting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the nation.
Every soldier represents the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces and the Nigerian state. Under Section 218 of the 1999 Constitution, only the President commands the Armed Forces, not any minister or political appointee.
Money or power doesn’t give anyone the right to disrespect a soldier. They embody our national honour and discipline.
Therefore every sensible and reasonable person must snub Nyesom Wike and back Lieutenant AM Yarima and the entire Military, as they put their lives on the line to defend the sovereignty of this country.
So I pity a civilian government where her appointee can insult a military officer recklessly like that.
I hope the President of such a government does the right thing for the good of his government.
Insulting military is generally considered unacceptable in our beloved country, Nigeria, because it can undermine their authority, dignity, and morale. Military serve to protect and serve the nation, and respecting their service and sacrifices is important. Our politicians, as public figures, should maintain a level of respect and dignity, even when disagreeing with someone.
In the case of the confrontation between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Naval officer, Lt AM Yarima in Abuja on November 11, 2025, while the disagreement was heated, maintaining respect and professionalism is crucial. Nyesom Wike emphasised that no one, regardless of rank, is above the law and challenged the military officers for obstructing lawful government duties, but it is important to understand that such interactions avoid personal insults to uphold dignity and order on all sides.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.