Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has publicly criticised the scale of security provided to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, labelling it a misplacement of vital state resources. Soyinka raised the alarm during his speech at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, December 9.
The renowned playwright described a recent personal encounter in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he witnessed what he called “an excessively large security battalion assigned to a young individual close to the Presidency.” He stated the entourage was “sufficient to take over a small country.” After inquiries, Soyinka said he discovered the young man was Seyi Tinubu. “I was so astonished that I started looking for the national security adviser,” he said, recounting that he contacted NSA Nuhu Ribadu to question the deployment.
Soyinka emphasised that the children of elected leaders “must understand their place” and “must not inherit the architecture of state power simply by proximity.” He argued that diverting such a large contingent of armed personnel to a private citizen is difficult to justify while the nation faces widespread insecurity, including kidnappings, insurgency, and communal violence. He noted the serious point behind his humorous remark that, given the size of his escort, the President could send Seyi to handle a major crisis.
This criticism comes weeks after President Tinubu, in late November, ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to unauthorized Very Important Persons for redeployment to core policing duties. As of Wednesday, there has been no official statement from the State House or the Presidency addressing Soyinka’s specific claims about the President’s son.
The event also saw Soyinka address other national issues. He cautioned against Nigeria’s rapid involvement in the recently foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, warning that such “unnecessary military entanglement” could backfire. He also commented on the ongoing demolitions in Lagos, urging that even necessary urban reforms must be conducted with compassion for displaced citizens.
A video clip of his comments, shared on social media platform X, has garnered significant public attention and debate. Soyinka used the platform to commend investigative journalists while also warning media houses about the dangers of misinformation in a charged political climate.