Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has publicly criticized the extensive armed security escort accompanying Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. The renowned writer made these remarks in Lagos while presenting an honorary award at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism event honoring poet Odia Ofeimun.
Soyinka reported seeing approximately 15 heavily armed security personnel escorting the president’s son at an Ikoyi hotel in Lagos He was so taken aback by the scene that he initially mistook it for a film production. Only after a young man from the group greeted him did his driver later inform him the individual was Seyi Tinubu.
The Nobel laureate stated that he contacted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to express his concerns about the situation. In a satirical comment, Soyinka suggested that instead of deploying Nigerian forces to help foil Sunday’s attempted coup in Benin, President Tinubu should have sent his son with his armed escorts to handle the situation
Soyinka emphasized that Nigeria is not unique in having a head of state and that presidential children should maintain appropriate boundaries. He stressed that devoting such significant security resources to a private citizen could weaken the country’s overall security framework, noting that children of leaders should understand they are not rulers themselves.
The criticism comes amid broader concerns about Nigeria’s security challenges. The country’s worsening insecurity has strained already overstretched security forces, with many police and security personnel assigned to protect VIPs and political figures rather than focusing on public safety
Recently, President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIPs across the country, directing them to refocus on protecting the public. The directive now requires VIPs seeking personal protection to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead.
The presidency had not commented on Soyinka’s remarks at the time of the report’s publica
