Wole Soyinka Urges President Tinubu to Tone Down Seyi Tinubu's Large Security Personnel

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has publicly criticized the massive security detail assigned to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu. The literary icon made these remarks at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Tuesday.

Soyinka described witnessing what he initially thought was a movie production at a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. He later discovered it was approximately 15 heavily armed security personnel protecting the president's son.

The Nobel Prize winner expressed alarm at the scale of protection. He even contacted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to question whether this deployment was officially sanctioned.

Wole Soyinka Questions Nigeria's Security Priorities

Soyinka emphasized that children of leaders should understand their position, noting they are not heads of state themselves. He warned that Nigeria's security architecture suffers when substantial military resources protect a single individual.

The celebrated author sarcastically suggested that President Tinubu could have sent Seyi to handle the recent Benin Republic coup attempt instead of deploying the Nigerian Air Force. His comments highlight growing concerns about resource allocation amid Nigeria's escalating security challenges.

Security Detail Large Enough to Control Small Country

Soyinka painted a vivid picture of the encounter at the Ikoyi hotel. A young man politely approached and greeted him. When Soyinka asked if they were filming, the man said no. Later, his driver identified the individual as Seyi Tinubu.

The security team appeared capable of taking over a small neighboring country, according to the Nobel Laureate's assessment.

The heavily armed personnel formed what resembled a battalion-level force occupying the hotel grounds.

Why Wole Soyinka Contacted National Security Adviser

Soyinka revealed he was disturbed enough to track down NSA Nuhu Ribadu. He reached Ribadu in Paris, where the adviser was attending a meeting with the president.

The Nobel Laureate wanted confirmation about whether such deployment was justified and officially authorized.

President's Family Privilege Must Not Be Abused

Soyinka stressed that while presidents worldwide have families, such privilege must never be abused. He noted this is not the first country with a head of state who has children.

The literary icon emphasized that family members are not potentates or rulers themselves. Public office should not confer undue power or protection on relatives of leaders.

Call for National Security Priority Reset

Soyinka urged President Tinubu to reconsider the scale of personnel attached to his son. He emphasized that such resources are urgently needed elsewhere in the country.

The Nobel Laureate added that concentrating military-grade protection around one individual contradicts national realities. Nigeria needs security deployments that reflect actual threats facing ordinary citizens.

Public Reaction and Social Media Response

Videos of Soyinka's remarks quickly went viral across Nigerian social media platforms. Citizens expressed support for the Nobel Laureate's courage in speaking truth to power.

Many Nigerians echoed concerns about security inequality and privilege in government. The incident has sparked national debate about accountability and resource management under the Tinubu administration.

Soyinka also addressed other issues. He warned about Nigeria's role in Benin. Instability there affects us. He criticized Lagos demolitions. Reforms must respect human dignity.

He praised journalists. They combat misinformation. Social media can trigger conflicts. Truth is key.

The presidency has not responded yet. In November 2025, Tinubu ordered VIP police withdrawals. Officers should focus on public safety.