By John Umeh
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has criticised what he described as an alarming misuse of government security assets, after witnessing a massive convoy assigned to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Soyinka spoke during the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, where he used the occasion to caution the President on issues of governance, regional stability, and the growing culture of privilege in public office.
The incident, which has since gone viral in a 4-minute 25-second video shared by #Nigeriastories on X, took place at a hotel in Ikoyi. According to Soyinka, what he saw was nothing short of shocking.
“A convoy fit for a military invasion” — Soyinka
Recounting the moment, Soyinka said he was stunned to see what he termed a mini-army escorting a young man linked to the Presidency.
“I saw an escort that could secure an entire territory,” he said, explaining that the level of firepower and personnel he observed was far beyond what any private individual should command.
Only later, he added, did he confirm that the person surrounded by the large contingent of armed operatives was Seyi Tinubu.
Deeply disturbed, Soyinka said he immediately sought out the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to demand an explanation.
“I asked him whether this is the standard protocol for the child of a sitting president. I told him plainly that I had never seen anything like it,” he said.
Soyinka added that his own inquiries revealed that such extravagant security arrangements for Seyi Tinubu were not isolated incidents.
“Children of presidents are not rulers”
Soyinka warned that presidential children must never be allowed to assume the structures of power simply because of family ties.
According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to divert critical security resources to the protection of unelected individuals at a time when citizens across the country are grappling with kidnappings, terrorism, and rural attacks.
He joked that with the kind of escort he saw, the President might as well deploy Seyi to confront insurgents — “given the size of the team around him” — but stressed that beyond humour lies a serious governance concern.
Calls for Security Priorities to Reflect National Realities
Soyinka urged President Tinubu to review the number of officers attached to his son, pointing out that such personnel are desperately needed in vulnerable communities.
He argued that concentrating a “security battalion” around Seyi contradicts the government’s own declarations about redeploying police officers to core operational duties.
Media Discipline and the Danger of Online Misinformation
Turning to journalism, Soyinka praised Nigerian reporters for working under difficult conditions but urged stronger editorial responsibility in an era where false information spreads rapidly.
He warned that the next major conflict in Nigeria could be triggered by reckless use of social media, insisting that professional journalism remains one of the country’s strongest shields against misinformation-driven chaos.
On Benin Republic Coup Plot: “Nigeria must tread carefully”
In the same viral video, Soyinka also condemned Nigeria’s involvement in the recently thwarted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.
He described the intervention as an unnecessary military gamble, arguing that Nigeria should prioritise strengthening democratic institutions rather than rushing into external confrontations.
“What happens in Benin affects Nigeria,” he said, warning that instability in neighbouring countries always reverberates across West Africa.
Critique of Lagos Demolitions
Soyinka also spoke about the ongoing demolitions across Lagos, revealing that he had received disturbing accounts and photographs of families forced out of their homes.
He insisted that even when demolitions are legally justified, authorities must treat displaced people with dignity and compassion.
Video Stirs National Debate
As of Tuesday night, the video had garnered thousands of views and numerous reposts on X, sparking intense discussion about governance, accountability and the privileges associated with political power.
The Presidency had yet to issue an official reaction at the time of reporting, and no public statement had confirmed or denied whether the individual in question was indeed Seyi Tinubu.
This comes weeks after President Tinubu instructed the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs nationwide, directing that officers be reassigned to core policing duties.
