The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was absent on Thursday as senior government and military officials assembled in Abuja for the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
The annual event, held at the cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier in Eagle Square, Abuja, is a solemn national occasion dedicated to honouring officers and men of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in the defence of the nation, while also recognising the sacrifices of serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Although the Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, was present at the venue, it was not clear whether she officially represented the FCT Minister at the ceremony, according to TheGuardian.
Her late arrival coincided with that of Vice President Kashim Shettima, leading protocol officials to bar her from accessing the saluting dais during the general salute.
She later joined other dignitaries who accompanied the Vice President to lay wreaths at the cenotaph in tribute to the fallen heroes.
Several top officials participated in the wreath-laying ceremony, including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; the Service Chiefs; senior military officers; members of the Diplomatic Corps; and the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Grace Morenike Henry, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025.
No official reason was given for Wike’s absence from the high-profile national event.
However, it was gathered that the FCT Minister may have chosen not to attend the military ceremony following a widely reported confrontation with a serving naval officer in Abuja late last year.
Recall that on November 11, 2025, Wike was involved in a clash with Lieutenant A. M. Yerima of the Nigerian Navy at the Gaduwa District over a disputed piece of land.
The incident reportedly occurred when the Minister arrived with officials to inspect, or possibly demolish, a structure on land alleged to have been illegally acquired by retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.
Lieutenant Yerima, who was said to be serving as Gambo’s security aide, reportedly prevented the Minister and his team from accessing the property, citing official instructions to secure the premises.
A video of the encounter later circulated widely on social media, showing Wike in a heated exchange with the naval officer, who stood firm while carrying out his assigned duty.
Traditionally, previous Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day events have featured the FCT Minister as a key dignitary, including taking the general salute and participating in the wreath-laying ceremony.
The programme for this year’s event listed President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, the Service Chiefs, members of the Diplomatic Corps and the FCT Minister among the expected wreath-layers.
Highlights of the 2026 ceremony included artillery gun salutes, the firing of volleys, a minute of silence in honour of fallen heroes, and the symbolic release of pigeons to represent peace and national unity.
