Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has raised concern over what he described as an unnecessary and excessive security escort attached to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
Soyinka spoke on Monday at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos. A four minute, 25 second clip from the event was later shared on Tuesday night by Nigeriastories on X, where it quickly went viral.
In the video, Soyinka recalled a recent experience in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he said he saw a large convoy of armed security personnel around a young man close to the Presidency. He said he later found out it was Seyi Tinubu.
He said, I was astonished. What I saw looked like a battalion that could take over a small country. Children must understand their place. They are not elected leaders, and they must not inherit the architecture of state power simply by proximity.
Soyinka noted that the scene troubled him enough to reach out to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
He added that the size of the escort raised questions at a time the country is battling kidnappings, rural attacks, banditry and insurgency.
He said, We cannot concentrate so many operatives around one individual when security is needed across the nation.
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At the same event, Soyinka made a light comment that if a major insurgency broke out, maybe the President should ask Seyi to go and face it, given the strength of his security team. But he stressed that behind the joke was a serious point about fairness and priority.
Soyinka also used the event to salute journalists for their resilience. However, he warned that misinformation is rising fast and said newsrooms must strengthen their editorial checks.
He said, The next great conflict may well be triggered by the misuse of social platforms. Truth and verification are our strongest defence against chaos.
The video, shared around 22:18 on Tuesday night, had recorded over 27,000 views, 466 reposts and dozens of quotes as Nigerians continued to react.
Soyinka also commented on Nigeria’s role in the recently halted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. He called it another needless military move that could create more problems for the region.
He said, What happens in Benin inevitably affects us. Instability anywhere in the region echoes across our own sense of security.
He then turned to the ongoing demolitions in Lagos, saying he had received pictures of families thrown out of their homes.
He said, Let us not strip away the humanity of the people affected. Even when reforms are needed, we must protect dignity.
The video continues to spread on X, with many users debating governance and accountability.
In late November, President Tinubu ordered police officers attached to Very Important Persons to be withdrawn and returned to core policing. As of Tuesday night, there was still no official word from the Presidency confirming or denying that the convoy Soyinka described belonged to Seyi Tinubu.
