Fellow of the NIIA, Akin Osuntokun, says Nigerians are romanticising unconstitutional military behaviour, risking a return to dangerous “military messianism.”

Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Akin Osuntokun, has warned that Nigeria is sliding back into a dangerous culture of “military messianism” following what he described as a clear constitutional violation by naval personnel in a recent viral incident.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Osuntokun said Nigerians were “celebrating style over substance” by focusing on the public exchange between the Minister and naval officers rather than recognising that the military acted far outside its constitutional mandate.

“It’s not a question of two institutions relating together. It is a situation of the violation of the Nigerian Constitution,”he said.

“The naval people there are clearly in violation of the constitution. Their constitutional role adds nothing whatsoever to what they were doing.”

He cautioned that the growing public admiration for military assertiveness—regardless of legality—was a dangerous trend that could resurrect authoritarian tendencies.

“I’ve seen a lot of romanticisation of rogue behaviour, and it’s very dangerous because it brings about this thing about military messianism. Nigerians are prepared to look the other way. If somebody portrays himself as a messiah, regardless of what the law says, it’s military rule syndrome.”

Osuntokun argued that the behaviour reflects long-standing distortion in civil-military relations, a hangover from decades of military dictatorship.

“Before 1999, we had military dictatorship more than civilian rule. This affected the psyche, the behaviour, our perception of the proper role of the military. They are not even supposed to be interfacing with civilians on a daily basis.”

He noted that the constitution gives only one person—the President—authority over the military.

“The only person vested with authority over the military is the President. Even he cannot deploy the military to go and clean his farm or settle family problems. The President cannot do what these people have done.”

Osuntokun criticised the increasing tendency of military officers, including retired personnel, to use the institution for personal errands.

“You are using a public institution to do your own private business. If that land is military land, that’s different. But the land in question is your personal land. That means a man can abuse the privilege he was given and use soldiers to do anything.”

He also expressed shock at comments by a former Chief of Defence Staff who publicly supported the officers.

“The most important lesson is in civil-military relations. What disappointed me most was the former Chief of Defence saying a man in uniform embodies the Nigerian Constitution. That is correct only in the lawful implementation of his duties—not as an errand boy to occupy private land or settle personal matters.”

On strengthening democratic oversight of the military, Osuntokun said Nigeria needs urgent civic and constitutional education.

“The first thing is education. Nigerians are not familiar with the constitutional role of the military. I see it as military rule—we haven’t gotten out of military rule yet. Nigerians are likely to clap if they take over government tomorrow.”

He added that institutions such as the National Orientation Agency must revive civic education to reinforce the limits of military authority.

“In the orientation courses of the military, they are supposed to learn rules of engagement. We also had civics in primary school. If people get educated about this, it will help. But this is Nigeria—the devil is in the implementation.”

Osuntokun concluded that any admiration of unconstitutional military behaviour signals a dangerous disconnect between citizens and democratic values.

“It implies a certain alienation from the country. If you are prepared to think for somebody at the expense of your own country, then something is wrong.” (ARISE TV)