Soyinka criticises ‘excessive’ security escort for Seyi Tinubu, warns presidency on governance priorities
Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has raised concerns over what he described as an “extravagant and unjustifiable” security escort attached to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, urging the Presidency to rethink its approach to security deployment, national priorities and democratic responsibility.
Soyinka made the remarks at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Awards in Lagos on Monday, comments that later went viral in a 4-minute, 25-second video shared on X by the account #Nigeriastories. The footage has since sparked widespread debate, amassing tens of thousands of views and hundreds of reposts.
In the video, Soyinka narrated a recent encounter in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he said he was taken aback after seeing what he described as a “large battalion-level escort” accompanying a young man “close to the Presidency.” He later learned the individual was Seyi Tinubu.
“I was astonished,” Soyinka said, adding that he immediately reached out to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to verify the deployment. “Children must know their place. They are not elected leaders and must not inherit the architecture of state power by proximity.”
Soyinka argued that deploying such a heavy security presence around one unelected individual is inconsistent with Nigeria’s current security needs, given the surge in kidnappings, rural banditry, extremist violence and criminal operations across multiple states. He added, humorously but pointedly, that if the escort was so robust, perhaps Seyi could be tasked with responding to a major insurgency. “Behind the humour is a serious matter of priority,” he stressed.
The Nobel laureate urged President Tinubu to reassess the scale of protection afforded to his son, insisting that scarce security resources must align with national urgency rather than political privilege.
Benin Coup Intervention Also Under Fire
Soyinka also criticised Nigeria’s involvement in the recently halted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, describing it as “an unnecessary military entanglement next door.” He warned that regional instability has direct consequences for Nigeria and argued that Abuja should reinforce democratic institutions rather than rely on rapid military intervention.
“What happens in Benin inevitably affects us,” he said. “Instability anywhere in the region echoes across our own sense of security.”
Media, Misinformation and Domestic Governance
Turning to the media, Soyinka commended journalists for resilience in a difficult climate but warned that rising misinformation poses a significant threat to social stability. He said “the next great conflict may well be triggered by the misuse of social platforms,” urging newsrooms to prioritise editorial discipline and rigorous verification.
He also criticised the wave of demolitions across Lagos, saying he has seen images and testimonies of displaced families and calling for humane, orderly evacuation procedures. “Let us not strip away the humanity of the people affected,” he said.
Public Reaction and Government Silence
The viral video, posted at about 10:18 p.m. on Tuesday, had garnered more than 27,000 views as of press time and continues to fuel conversations about governance, accountability and the limits of state privilege.
In late November, President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country, directing that officers be reassigned to frontline policing duties. However, as of Tuesday night, there had been no official response from the Presidency regarding Soyinka’s claims, and no confirmation that the individual filmed with the large escort was indeed Seyi Tinubu.
The debate continues to unfold online as Nigerians weigh Soyinka’s warnings against the broader state of security and governance in the country.
