Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has expressed concern over the large security battalion assigned to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, describing the entourage as sufficient to take over a small country.
Speaking at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Monday, Soyinka also warned the President to exercise caution regarding regional security interventions and the current demolitions in Lagos.
Soyinka recounted a recent encounter in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he saw a massive security entourage surrounding a young man close to the Presidency. After learning the individual was Seyi Tinubu, he took the unusual step of contacting the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to register his concern.
Soyinka stated that the force, which he estimated to be 15 or so heavily armed to the teeth officials, was inconsistent with a nation battling with banditry, kidnappings, and criminal violence.
The Nobel Laureate warned that such resources are urgently needed elsewhere, stating;
Children must understand their place. They are not elected leaders, and they must not inherit the architecture of state power simply by proximity
He stressed that security deployments must reflect national realities and priorities, not political privilege.
The criticism comes shortly after President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country to reinforce core policing duties. As of Tuesday night, there was no official response from the Presidency to Soyinka’s comments regarding Seyi Tinubu.
Meanwhile, Soyinka warned that Nigeria’s recent military involvement in the foiled coup attempt in the Republic of Benin carries significant risks. He described the intervention as another unnecessary military entanglement. He stated that Nigeria should focus on reinforcing its democratic institutions rather than resorting to reflexive military deployment. He added that instability in neighboring states, like Benin, inevitably spills into Nigeria.
Soyinka also criticized the demolitions in Lagos state, stating that even necessary urban reforms must prioritize human dignity. He called for humane evacuation procedures that protect vulnerable residents.
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