Dismissed Soldier Questions Enlistment of Politicians’ Children in Army

A dismissed Nigerian soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, also known as Soja Boi, has raised concerns about the ongoing recruitment into the armed forces, questioning why the children of political elites are not enlisted.

In a viral video, Olamilekan described the recruitment exercise as commendable but expressed doubts about its fairness and transparency.

“I’m seeing some news online that the military is recruiting new people, and it’s very good,” he said. “But I’m still asking: why are politicians’ children not joining them?”

He further questioned why political office holders, including ministers, lawmakers, and local government officials, do not allow their own children to enlist.

The former lance corporal suggested that the absence of elite participation contributes to systemic problems within the military. He argued that if politicians’ children were serving, meaningful reforms would follow.

“If politicians send their children to join the army, many things will change in this country,” he added. “Suffering will reduce, and a lot will improve inside the military.”

Olamilekan noted that his concerns stem from personal experience, including the loss of colleagues in counter-insurgency operations. He had previously called on the Nigerian Army to make its payroll public, presenting bank transaction alerts which he said reflected modest earnings by soldiers.

He was recently dismissed from service for alleged indiscipline and violation of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy. Despite the Army dismissing his earlier claims as false and misleading, Olamilekan insisted that his statements were factual.

“I am not trying to spoil the Nigerian Army’s image or make people look at them as if they are not good. But I am just speaking the facts and I will be backing them with evidence,” he said.

He maintained that reforms within the military would be more likely if those in power had direct personal stakes in the system, particularly through the participation of their own family members.