Nigeria’s social media space has exploded with reactions as Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka publicly criticised the Tinubu administration, directing a sharp, poetic jab at the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Speaking at the Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos on Tuesday, Soyinka accused the government of unchecked excesses, using Seyi’s overbearing security escort as a symbol of “misplaced national priorities.”
According to Soyinka, during one visit to Ikoyi, he mistook a massive security presence outside a hotel for a film set — only to be told it was Seyi Tinubu’s convoy. He remarked that the number of soldiers, SWAT officers, DSS operatives, and police attached to Seyi was enough “to stage a coup in any Nigerian state.”
The literary icon declared that instead of deploying the military to Benin Republic in the event of a coup, the President should “send Seyi and his battalion,” since the force escorting him is practically a mini army.
Soyinka went further, stressing that Seyi Tinubu is not Nigeria’s first presidential son, and should “know his place” rather than moving around with a convoy that mirrors — or even rivals — the President’s own.
He said he attempted contacting NSA Nuhu Ribadu over the alarming trend but received no meaningful response.
The remarks sparked immediate backlash from government loyalists, who criticised Soyinka for openly confronting the administration. But many Nigerians applauded him for speaking truth to power.
Political activist Omoyele Sowore reignited controversy by claiming that Seyi Tinubu now wields more influence than the IGP, DSS DG, CDS, and NSA combined, referencing previous allegations of abuse of power.
Seyi Tinubu’s convoy has faced public scrutiny since 2023, with many Nigerians questioning why a private citizen enjoys presidential-level protection.
In May 2025, Seyi was accused of abducting and assaulting NANS President Isah Atiku, who claimed he was targeted for rejecting a ₦100 million bribe to support the administration — allegations Seyi denied, but which continue to fuel public debate.
Seyi Tinubu’s political ambition has also remained a trending topic after reports emerged earlier this year that he was being groomed to replace Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Lagos State Governor.
The outrage intensified when he reportedly flew the Presidential Jet to Kano in 2023 with friends to watch a polo match, receiving a full presidential-style reception.
As Nigerians react across social media, Soyinka’s fiery rebuke has thrust Seyi Tinubu back into national conversation — and raised fresh questions about power, privilege, and leadership in the Tinubu era.
