Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise restraint and sound judgment in the management of domestic security, governance priorities and Nigeria’s involvement in regional affairs. He made the remarks at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, where he raised concerns about what he described as an increasingly troubling pattern in the use of state security resources.
Soyinka, in a video now circulating widely on X and posted, recounted an incident in Ikoyi, Lagos, which he said revealed a disturbing excess in the deployment of security personnel. He said he was shocked to witness what he called an “extravagant display of state protection” around a young individual he later discovered was Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son.
According to him, the convoy was so heavily fortified that it appeared “sufficient to take over a small country.” The discovery, he said, prompted him to contact National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Soyinka stressed that children of public office holders must not assume the privileges of electoral authority simply because of proximity to power.
He urged President Tinubu to review the scale of security attached to Seyi, saying such personnel are needed in critical areas of the country grappling with kidnappings, insurgency and widespread criminal violence. Though he made light of the situation by suggesting Seyi be sent to handle a major insurgency if one were to break out, he emphasised that behind the humour lies “a serious matter of priority and fairness.”
Turning to the media, Soyinka applauded journalists for their resilience but called for greater editorial discipline amid rising misinformation. He warned that unchecked misuse of social platforms could trigger large-scale conflict, noting that credible journalism remains one of Nigeria’s most essential safeguards against instability.
As of Tuesday night, the viral video had drawn tens of thousands of views and sparked widespread reactions online.
In the same footage, Soyinka addressed Nigeria’s response to the recently halted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin. He described the intervention as “an unnecessary military entanglement,” insisting that Nigeria should prioritise strengthening democratic institutions rather than defaulting to military involvement. He warned that instability in neighbouring countries inevitably reverberates within Nigeria’s borders.
Soyinka also criticised the ongoing demolitions across Lagos, lamenting the plight of displaced families. While acknowledging that urban reforms may be necessary, he cautioned authorities not to disregard human dignity, urging that evacuation processes should protect vulnerable residents.
The video continues to circulate widely, generating conversations on governance, accountability and the use of state resources.
In late November, President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs nationwide, directing their redeployment to core policing duties. As of Tuesday night, there had been no official reaction from the Presidency regarding Soyinka’s comments or confirmation that the individual in question was indeed Seyi Tinubu.
