Professor Wole Soyinka has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to exercise prudence in matters of regional security, domestic governance, and state protection for privileged individuals, raising concerns over the scale of security personnel assigned to the President’s son.
Soyinka made the remarks at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, an event also held in honour of veteran poet Odia Ofeimum. A viral video of his speech, shared on X by #Nigeriastories, has already garnered over 27,000 views.
Recounting a recent encounter at a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, Soyinka said he was astonished by “an excessively large security battalion assigned to a young individual close to the Presidency,” later identified as Seyi Tinubu. He described the security detail as “sufficient to take over a small country” and said he immediately contacted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for clarification.
“I couldn’t believe it. Children must understand their place. They are not elected leaders, and they must not inherit the architecture of state power simply by proximity,” Soyinka said. He urged the President to reconsider the deployment, arguing that such resources are urgently needed elsewhere, particularly given the nation’s struggles with kidnappings, insurgency, rural attacks, and criminal violence.
Humorously, he added that if a major insurgency broke out, perhaps the President should “ask Seyi to go and handle it” given the size of his security escort, but stressed that the underlying issue was one of priority and fairness.
Beyond domestic security concerns, Soyinka also commented on regional matters, warning that Nigeria’s involvement in the recently halted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin posed significant risks. He urged the country to focus on strengthening democratic institutions rather than engaging in reflex military interventions, noting that instability in neighbouring states inevitably affects Nigeria.
On domestic policy, Soyinka criticized the ongoing demolitions across Lagos, emphasizing that urban reforms must preserve the dignity and humanity of affected families. He called for careful evacuation procedures and safeguards for the vulnerable.
Soyinka also addressed the media, praising journalists’ resilience while urging stronger editorial discipline, warning that misuse of social platforms could trigger future conflicts. He highlighted credible journalism as a crucial defense against chaos in Nigeria.
The video continues to generate public discussion on governance, accountability, and security priorities, while the Presidency has yet to officially respond or confirm the identity of the individual in question.
