The rise, influence of a president’s son

Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has hogged the limelight in recent times due to a lifestyle many critics find flamboyant, raising questions about the unfettered privileges Nigeria’s First Family members enjoy.

Seyi’s latest critic was Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who deliberately veered off his remarks during the presentation of an honourary award to renowned poet Odia Ofeimun at the 20th edition of Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting in Lagos to take a swipe at him.

Recalling a recent encounter at a hotel he stayed on Victoria Island, Lagos, Prof Soyinka expressed shock at what he described as “an excessively large security battalion assigned to a young individual close to the Presidency,” saying the fully-armed security personnel were “sufficient to take over a small country” like Benin Republic where the Nigerian government intervened to quell a looming coup.

Curious about the scenario, Soyinka revealed he reached out to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to seek an explanation. Though Soyinka did not relay the outcome of his discussion with Ribadu, his demeanor was unmistakably clear – very worried.

“I couldn’t believe it. Later on, I did some investigative journalism, and I found that apparently this is how this young man goes around with his battalion, his heavily armed soldiers,” he said.

The world-acclaimed essayist warned that the children of public office holders must understand their place. “They are not elected leaders, and they must not inherit the architecture of state power simply by proximity.”

Who is Seyi Tinubu?

Born on October 13, 1985, Seyi’s life has always revolved around power corridors. He grew up internalising what authority means. He was barely seven years old when his father had a stint at the short-lived 3rd National Assembly as a senator representing Lagos West. And midway through his education at St. Saviour’s School in Lagos, Holmewood House School and Milton Abbey in the United Kingdom, Tinubu became governor of Lagos State in 1999, affording his son another ground to learn the ropes, even if subconsciously.

He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 2010 at the University of Buckingham, UK, where he also bagged a Master’s in corporate and commercial law and was called to the bar in Nigeria in 2013. At this time, he had started leveraging his father’s political clout to forge a path for himself. He co-founded Loatsad Promomedia, a leading out-of-home advertising firm using digital screens and billboards, the same year he became a Nigerian lawyer. He also led Red Dot Media as founder and Chief Executive Officer.

According to reports, Seyi started in the family real estate business, Rotimi Tinubu & Co., and has ventures in entertainment, supporting events that promote Nigerian talent globally. He is married to Layal Jade, a Nigerian-Lebanese entrepreneur who runs Tot Toys.

Undoubtedly, ST, as he’s fondly called, evinces a complex persona that stirs both admiration and controversy. He is described as a Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist with a career in advertising, real estate and media while also engaging in youth empowerment initiatives. By the same token, he has been criticised for allegedly benefiting unduly from state resources and exerting considerable influence on who gets what in the scheme of things.

Upon President Tinubu’s assumption of office in May 2023, it didn’t take long before Nigerians introduced the monikers ‘the Office of the Son of President’ and ‘Acting Vice President’ in allusion to the stupendous opulence Seyi exudes and the influence he wields in the corridors of power.

Soyinka’s assertion that Seyi is fond of going around “with his battalion, his heavily armed soldiers” may not be far-fetched after all. For instance, in April 2025, the Internet was awash with a short video of Seyi being aggressively guarded by armed military men and police officers as he visited Sokoto in a long motorcade, as sirens blared ceaselessly.

Controversies around president’s son

From attending cabinet meetings strictly meant for members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) – the highest decision-making organ, comprising the Vice President, governors, ministers, Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, among others, to flying a presidential jet, Seyi has courted public opprobrium on and offline a couple of times.

In August 2024, leaked documents, part of a larger investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, allegedly linked him to an offshore company as a co-owner alongside Ronald Chagoury Jr., the son of billionaire tycoon Ronald Chagoury.

The company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands came under scrutiny for reportedly awarding a sum of $13 billion contract to build a 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar coastal highway to Hitech Construction Company Ltd, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group. He was also identified as a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, another subsidiary of the Chagoury Group.

Critics argue that the longstanding business and personal relationships between the Tinubu and Chagoury families have unduly influenced the awarding of the contract. But Minister of Works David Umahi defended the process, saying it followed due procedure and that the matter is currently before the courts.

Seyi’s business ventures have also drawn attention, with many insinuating that his advertising company, Loatsad Promomedia, has become a dominant player in Nigeria’s outdoor advertising industry. It was alleged that the company curried favour due to his father’s political clout.

In October 2023, the president’s son was criticised for flying a presidential jet to watch a polo match in Kano. In November 2023, the president stopped his son and some others from attending the weekly FEC meetings. Last year, there was outrage on social media over Seyi’s alleged acquisition of a luxury timepiece, a Richard Mille RM 055 watch worth $550,000 (about N825m then).

Again, Seyi came under fire in February 2024, for appealing to Nigerians to endure hardships caused by the economic reforms. Many social media users flayed him for making such an appeal while he leads an opulent lifestyle.

“My inky anger over his statement is ‘we must endure.” Who are the we? What is he enduring with the current state of the nation?” an X user, Omotayo of Lagos, wrote.

“People who can’t afford to eat even one meal anymore should endure so you can rock the over $200k watch on your wrist?” Another user, Benassi, wrote.

Seyi was also at the centre of controversy in March 2025 over his Ramadan outreach under his Renewed Hope Youth Engagement initiative, across several states in the northern part of the country. They are: Kano, Yobe, Adamawa and Sokoto states. His action was seen as a subtle campaign for his father’s re-election in 2027, despite his insistence that it had no political undertones and was merely a part of his personal humanitarian efforts.

In yet another dramatic event, the president’s son was in the news in May. This time with the factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isah, who accused him of orchestrating his assault and abduction for rejecting a N100 million bribe. Isah alleged that Seyi had offered him the money to support Tinubu, a claim the president’s son debunked.

He also alleged that thugs loyal to Seyi stormed a hoted in Asokoro, the venue of the NANS President inauguration, and disrupted the event.

“Before the day of the inauguration (as NANS President), Seyi had asked the Senior Special Assistant on Students and Youth Affairs to lure me into silence with money. I was told he was ready to offer me N100 million.

“I was abducted on the 15th of April. I was stripped naked and seriously beaten. They threatened to release a video. They told me nothing would happen if they released the video, and even if they killed me, Seyi Tinubu would order a cover-up.” Isah recounted, adding that he rejected the offer because the President had failed to deliver on his campaign promises and did not deserve student endorsement.

“Wow… how can someone lie with so much confidence? An attempt to defame my character. May God be with you, Comrade Atiku Isah….All these allegations made by Atiku Isah are completely fictional,” Seyi countered the allegations in a post on Instagram Story, saying he had never met Isah or discussed any matter with him.

“I have never knowingly met him before, nor did I visit any location with thugs,” he added.

Consequently, NANS, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Orowole Eniola Owoyemi, accused Seyi of undue interference in the union’s affairs and threatened a nationwide protest.

NANS alleged that Seyi had persistently tried to hijack the leadership of the association, noting that Comrade Isah had been a repeated target of political intimidation and harassment.

Seyi’s silent political empire

Right from the buildup to the 2023 elections, Seyi had strategically positioned himself, mobilising influencers and groups to support his father’s presidential campaign. Following Tinubu’s election as president, there have been hushed discussions in the political cycle about his influence in some of the appointments made by the president.

Though Weekend Trust cannot independently confirm this claim, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, seemingly lent credence to the speculation in a recent podcast interview where he knocked Seyi’s critics.

“At a point, he was even criticised for the people he brought into government, who were mostly Obidients. That tells you he doesn’t have biases,” Bwala said.

Recently, the media widely reported speculations about Seyi’s purported ambition to contest the Lagos governorship election in 2027. Though Seyi has not publicly announced his intention, Bwala maintained that he is qualified to seek election into any political office in the country, including the governorship of Lagos State.

“If Seyi Tinubu’s father is the president, what stops him from running for Lagos State Governor? Seyi Tinubu can even challenge his father in the next election,” he added.

Analysts speak

It is instructive to note that unbridled romance with power by members of the First Family, especially presidents’ children, predates the Tinubu administration. However, some analysts observe that Seyi has elevated the act to a new height.

A public affairs analyst, Barrister Liborous Oshoma, said that though it is a constitutional responsibility to protect the First Family, it amounts to abuse of office if it comes at a cost to the state’s resources.

“The Office of the First Lady became popular during the IBB (General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida) regime. Nobody knew Shehu Shagari’s wife. But the IBB came and the office of the First Lady became flamboyant. Also, before now, ‘the Office of the First Son’ or whatever you want to call it was not this popular.

“We have turned our system into a constitutional monarchy. Under Obasanjo, even though his son, Gbenga, put up similar behaviour, it was not with this recklessness. The brazenness started under the Buhari administration when his daughter flew the presidential jet to Bauchi for the Durba,” he said.

Oshoma said some people were quick to reference the American system, where some political office holders appointed their children as advisers to justify what obtains in Nigeria, but failed to realise that “accountability is the name of the game there.”

“You must be accountable to the system. But here, where nobody is accountable to anything, people just use the state resources. We are in a country where a battalion can go around, guarding the president’s son. We are used to abuse of office without consequences. It is unconstitutional and in some countries it is an impeachable offence,” he added.

A political scientist, Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, said Seyi’s moving around with a large entourage and security details betrays President Tinubu’s appeal to Nigerians to make sacrifices amidst a biting economic situation, noting that “when a leader is calling for sacrifice, charity should start from home.”

“This does not speak well of the administration’s resolve to cut expenses. It also raises a lot of concerns about the resolve to fight the security crisis in the country and needs to be checked,” he added.

The political analyst also expressed worry over a breach of protocols whereby some highly-placed public officials bow to Seyi at public functions, urging the president to reduce his son’s public engagements and heavy security.

“I think the government can minimise his presence in public functions and largely control the entourage he moves around. Probably, he can move with a private security apparatus rather than the state security apparatus. I think that will tell on the president’s resolve to reduce police details following VIPs.

“Although, we cannot really confirm whether he has a hand in the appointments the president makes, there are speculations that he has a huge influence and that can also be worrisome administratively. Even the fact that his name has been mentioned several times within the Lagos context says a lot about his influence in the government cycle,” Sufi stated.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Isaac Balami, justified the security details around Seyi Tinubu, saying Soyinka’s comment was misinterpreted and exaggerated.

““It is clear that some people have taken Prof. Soyinka’s comment out of context. But I have always encouraged Seyi Tinubu to stay focused, continue his humanitarian work and maintain his commitment to national unity….Even though Seyi Tinubu has not declared or confirmed interest in any public office, his endorsement by Lagos youths and others is enough security concern.

“Seyi Tinubu is too humble to move around with the level of security Soyinka described. Many of the individuals seen with him are supporters and volunteer guards such as Man-O-War members,” he stated.

Balami, however, said it is not unusual for children of former or sitting presidents to have increased security presence, explaining that Seyi is more visible because of his involvement in youth mobilisation and his support for the APC.

Tinubu, prominent Nigerians speak glowingly of Seyi

Despite the criticism of his public conduct, Seyi is described as humble, selfless, kind and discplined by people close to him. During his 40th birthday in October, his father, Tinubu, in a letter he personally signed, spoke proudly of his personality and the legacy he is building.

“I thank Almighty God for your life and the man you have become. You have walked your path with focus, courage, and humility, and you have done so with a heart that seeks to build, serve, and uplift others. From an early age, you have shown determination and a desire to create and lead.

“I have watched you turn ideas into institutions and challenges into opportunities. In business and in service, you have shown that true success is not measured by wealth or power but by the impact we make and the lives we touch…You have carried your name with honour and have remained faithful to the values of discipline, integrity, and hard work.

“Our entire family is proud of you. We are proud of the family you are building with Layal, your devotion as a husband and father, and your commitment to making a difference in your generation,” the president wrote.

Also, in a short video celebrating the birthday, friends, families, popular artistes, influencers and business tycoons, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, shared beautiful attributes about the president’s son.

Dangote calls him a mentee; Otedola says he is “very energetic.” Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, simply refers to him as a legend, while Olamide Gbenga Adedeji, well known as Baado, says he is “indescribable.” “The best way to describe my brother is resilient,” Seyi’s sibling, Yinka, quips.

Others describe him as selfless, kind and spontaneous, far from ordinary, complex, a maverick, magnanimous, intentional, generous, brave, unconventional, protective, unshakeable, genuine, thoughtful, loving and driven.

“You can’t describe Seyi in one word,” the Principal Secretary to the President, Muri Okunola, insists.

In a letter he penned on Instagram, popular comedian and actor Oluwatoyin Bayegun, well known as Woli Arole, spoke glowingly of Seyi, calling him “My Bromance.”

“I have met several MEN, ST is different, I am not posting like others because of what they think of you, I am publicly celebrating YOU, my FRIEND. My ride and die GEE. You had come through for me in the hardest times of my life. Oh Yes! You attended my wedding, you supported my craft, you introduced me to people.

“You called me to anchor the first Campaign of His Excellence @officialasiwajubat at Onikan Stadium, a lot of people insulted me, some bullied me online but you called me the next day and said, “Arole don’t worry”. Hear this ‘I can stand by you ST at any time’. You are a man of honour, you are my God-sent Angel. What can I say about your HUMILITY!!!

“After Dad became President, you gave me access to you again, you didn’t forget old days. ST, I miss our times at the Polo Club, I miss our chats, I miss our outings. I know you’ve been busy with politics same way I have been busy with the Ministry. But you’re my forever GEE.”

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