Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has expressed deep concern over what he described as the unusually large number of armed security operatives assigned to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Soyinka’s remarks, which have sparked wide public discussion, followed a personal encounter in Lagos that left him shocked and unsettled.
The respected playwright and activist made the comments in a video circulating on the social media platform X, where he narrated how he mistakenly thought he had walked into a movie set because of the heavy security presence he witnessed around Seyi Tinubu.
According to Soyinka, the incident happened during a visit to a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. As he arrived, he met what he described as a “small battalion” of heavily armed security officers positioned around the facility. The Nobel Laureate said he initially assumed a film was being shot due to the size and sophistication of the security formation.
He explained that the situation only became clear to him when a young man broke away from the group and approached him politely.
“A young man came over and greeted me, very polite, very nice. That was when I asked if they were shooting a film, and he said no,” Soyinka recounted.
Soyinka said he later discovered that the young man was none other than Seyi Tinubu, and the large security presence was part of his personal escort.
“I was told this is how the young man moves around. I couldn’t believe that a child of the head of state goes around with an army for his protection,” he said.
The encounter disturbed Soyinka so much that he attempted to reach Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA) to verify whether such a deployment of security personnel was normal or officially approved.
“I said, track him down for me. I described the scene and asked if this is normal,” he added.
His concerns revolve around the possible misuse of national security resources and the message such displays of force send to citizens, especially at a time when many Nigerians are experiencing increased insecurity, including kidnappings, bandit attacks, and violent robberies.
Soyinka argued that such a heavy concentration of security officers around one individual, particularly the president’s son, is not only unnecessary but also damaging to the country’s security architecture.
“Children should know their place. They are not heads of state. The security architecture of a nation suffers when we see such devotion of troops to one young individual,” he said.
The Nobel Laureate added a touch of sarcasm, saying that with such a large escort, Seyi Tinubu could as well be deployed to quell national unrest.
“The next time there is an insurrection, the president should just call that young man. He has enough troops under his command,” Soyinka joked.
Soyinka’s remarks come at a time when many Nigerians have been questioning how security resources are allocated across the country. Over the past few years, citizens have repeatedly voiced concerns over rising insecurity, especially in rural communities and along major highways.
The police, military and other security agencies often complain about inadequate manpower and equipment. Yet, high-profile individuals—especially political office holders and their families—continue to enjoy heavy protection.
In Nigeria, the children of presidents and top political leaders have often been assigned official protection. However, public criticism tends to arise when the level of security appears excessive or when the country is facing serious security challenges.
During previous administrations, similar concerns were raised about the motorcades and security details of presidential relatives and high-ranking officials. Analysts say such displays can create a perception of inequality and distrust, especially when ordinary Nigerians struggle daily with crimes that go unreported due to lack of security presence.
Soyinka’s intervention adds an influential voice to the ongoing debate. As a long-time critic of excessive government privilege and abuse of power, his comments have resonated strongly with many Nigerians who believe that government officials and their families should lead by example in modesty and restraint.
Although the government has not officially responded to Soyinka’s remarks, the video has triggered wide conversations on social media. Many Nigerians share Soyinka’s shock, asking why so many armed officers should be assigned to one individual who holds no public office.
Some commentators argue that Seyi Tinubu may require increased protection due to possible threats against the president’s family. Others counter that even if protection is necessary, the scale described by Soyinka appears far beyond reasonable standards.
Public opinion continues to be divided, but most commenters agree that Nigeria’s security challenges require careful management of manpower and resources to ensure that ordinary citizens are not left vulnerable.
Prof. Wole Soyinka has for decades been a strong voice for accountability, justice, and responsible leadership in Nigeria. He has openly criticized various governments military and civilian alike—whenever he believes they are failing to serve the people.
