Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Decries “Battalion”-Level Security for President’s Son
LAGOS – Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has publicly criticised the “excessive” and “shocking” security deployment assigned to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu. The renowned playwright and social critic condemned the display as symptomatic of a profound misplacement of priorities within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Soyinka made the remarks on Monday during the 20th edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) Awards in Lagos.
He recounted a personal experience where he witnessed Seyi Tinubu arriving at a hotel with what he described as a “battalion” of heavily armed security operatives. The detail, he said, included personnel from the elite Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit.
“The other day, I saw Seyi Tinubu arrive at a hotel with a battalion of armed men, including SWAT. I was shocked,” Soyinka told the audience. “That battalion was enough to take over a small neighbouring country.”
The scale of the security deployment prompted Soyinka to take direct action. He revealed that he subsequently contacted the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to demand an explanation for why the President’s son required such an overwhelming show of force.
While the NSA’s response was not disclosed, Soyinka’s decision to raise the issue at the highest level underscores his view of the incident as a serious national concern.
The literary icon framed the event as a stark example of misplaced resources in a country grappling with widespread insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. He argued that such disproportionate protection for the family members of leaders reflects a skewed system that privileges the powerful over the general populace.
“The incident reflects misplaced priorities within Nigeria’s security system,” Soyinka stated, suggesting that the personnel and resources involved could be better deployed in addressing the pervasive security challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
As of press time, there has been no official reaction from the Presidency or the Nigeria Police Force regarding Soyinka’s comments. The critique is expected to reignite debates about the use of state security assets and the perceived culture of elitism in Nigeria’s governance structure.
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