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In a democratic republic, power is conferred by the constitution—not inherited by bloodline. Yet recent events involving Mr. Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are raising red flags that blur the line between public office and familial privilege.

The most brazen example occurred during the President’s recent visit to the Vatican, where Seyi was seen positioned between the President and his official security detail—including the ADC and bodyguards. That is not optics; that is a direct breach of security protocol and a quiet desecration of institutional order.

We ask—who allowed that?

The answer leads us to one door: Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff.

As the de facto manager of the President’s inner circle and the gatekeeper to Aso Rock, Gbajabiamila’s job is not to placate sycophants or accommodate nepotistic incursions, but to uphold the sanctity of the presidency. His silence and ive tolerance of Seyi Tinubu’s serial overreaches now border on complicity.

If you cannot manage access, then you are not managing the office.


A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident

This Vatican breach isn’t a one-off. Seyi has been seen on multiple state visits and strategic missions, often in positions that raise eyebrows:
• Standing where diplomats should be
• Appearing in protocol photos
• Sitting in on strategy sessions with no known official title

The symbolism is dangerous. Nigeria fought for independence, endured multiple coups, and survived military regimes to build a democracy, not a dynastic monarchy.

Other presidents have children too. Obasanjo. Jonathan. Buhari. Yet, we never saw their sons standing between the president and the State Protocol Unit at global forums. Their roles remained private—as it should be.

Sit the Boy Down. Period.

If no one has told Seyi Tinubu yet, let this be the memo:

“Being the son of the President does not confer you any constitutional role in statecraft. You are not an elected official. You are not a government appointee. You are not an heir to the Nigerian throne—because no such throne exists.”

There needs to be a clear, firm conversation—one that involves the Chief of Staff, the NSA, and the SGF. Let him know what he can and cannot do. If his proximity to power is not curbed, we risk building a model of entitlement as leadership, and bloodline as governance.

A Republic Must Look Like One

The very soul of a republic is its form: power must appear able, separated, meritocratic. Not familial. When presidential trips begin to resemble coronation parades, and the president’s son starts looking like the heir apparent, the nation begins to lose faith—not just in the leader, but in the system itself.

If Mr. Gbajabiamila will not course-correct, then perhaps he is no longer fit to be the gatekeeper of Nigeria’s most sacred executive office.

I don't even know if wee still have cos in Nigeria, but I like that boy but he should not be too forward.

Okay

Well written, I am a fan of the young man, but his exceses calls for concern. Hopefully he will rein himself in

Lagos pattern of governance showcasing itself at the moment in the Federal Government official visit and events...

I when his father told him not to be coming for FEC meeting, d boy no dey hear word, maybe d boy is nursing the father or something, cos tinubu no fit pursue d boy

The op took the words from my mouth

This is a national disgrace and shouldn't be allowed to repeat itself.

I have never seen this level of protocol breaches at presidential level in my life even under the military. President Tinubu will really have to call Seyi to order and reprimand Femi Gbajabiamila in Seyi's presence, threatening him with a sack if such should happen again. A handbook of protocol processes should also be made available to Seyi to read and memorize so as not to embarrass the country and indeed his father again. Nigeria shall be great

SadiqBabaSani:
Well written, I am a fan of the young man, but his exceses calls for concern. Hopefully he will rein himself in

He can't rein himself in, someone he respects more will have to. It's downright embarrassing now

Zulu11zulu:
I don't even know if wee still have cos in Nigeria, but I like that boy but he should not be too forward.

The young man is trying to reduce the influence of cabal in his father's government in a wrong way. He doesn't want to give them chance to feed his popcy half information as popcy might not be fully alert to grab happenings at such high profile occasions.😀 We now have office of the 'first son' in naija.

Dopeboy8701:
I when his father told him not to be coming for FEC meeting, d boy no dey hear word, maybe d boy is nursing the father or something, cos tinubu no fit pursue d boy

Why are all of you not seeing that Seyi is trying to get first class details of happenings at occasions his dad attends? He needs to relate things to his dad directly for better understanding as those protocol officers and aides will use grammar confuse the old man. . Seyi knows the true mental and physical status of his dad and is doing everything possible to be his PA. They will soon appoint him as an aide to PBAT officially as he doesn't want to rely on news update on happenings in the government.

Zulu11zulu:
I don't even know if wee still have cos in Nigeria, but I like that boy but he should not be too forward.

You like him for what reasons exactly?

In a constitutional democracy such as Nigeria’s, power is derived from the people and exercised through clearly defined legal frameworks—not inherited through bloodlines. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) makes no provision for familial privilege in matters of statecraft. Section 1(2) affirms that Nigeria shall not be governed except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. This must remain our guiding principle.

The recent public appearances of Mr. Seyi Tinubu—particularly during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the Vatican, where he stood in close proximity to official security personnel—raise critical questions about protocol, access, and the sanctity of state representation. These are not matters of optics alone; they touch the core of institutional order and national security.

It is the duty of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, to regulate access to the presidency and ensure that all official delegations align strictly with diplomatic, constitutional, and security standards. If Mr. Seyi Tinubu’s repeated presence at official functions lacks legal grounding, then Mr. Gbajabiamila’s silence or tolerance of such practices risks undermining the integrity of the office he is appointed to safeguard.

The comparison to past istrations is instructive. Previous Presidents—Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Buhari—maintained a firm boundary between their private family lives and official state matters. None positioned their children in proximity to official engagements in ways that could blur the lines of public authority. This precedent must be preserved to prevent a slow drift toward dynastic governance.

The matter at hand goes beyond one individual. It is about the kind of republic Nigeria aspires to be. When presidential entourages begin to take on the character of royal processions, and unelected family occupy spaces reserved for public officials, the symbolism becomes corrosive. It signals a shift from merit to entitlement—precisely what a republic is designed to prevent.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable to expect a formal clarification from the Presidency. There should be a deliberate reaffirmation of constitutional boundaries. If Mr. Seyi Tinubu holds no official designation, he should not be accorded privileges that imply otherwise. And if the Chief of Staff cannot—or will not—enforce this separation, then it raises legitimate questions about his continued suitability as custodian of the Presidency’s internal order.

Our republic must not only function like one—it must also look like one. The visual and procedural language of leadership matters. To sustain democratic confidence, we must guard against any creeping perception that governance is becoming the preserve of a privileged few.

Constitutional order is not a suggestion; it is the very fabric of our national identity. It must be preserved—with firmness, clarity, and integrity.

Those posters saying tinubu and gbaja should caution seyi tinubu, do you think seyi was at those places on his own Accord?
His father brought him along not minding how tacky and unconstistutional the sight looks.

Tinubu is an old man whose faculties often fail him, who better be his guide than his son?

They should give seyi and official appointment as SSA to avoid futher embarrassing the nation.

SisterAnn:
Those posters saying tinubu and gbaja should caution seyi tinubu, do you think seyi was at those places on his own Accord?
His father brought him along not minding how tacky and unconditional the sight looks.

Tinubu is an old man whose faculties often fail him, who better be his guide than his son?

They should give seyi and official appointment as SSA to avoid futher embarrassing the nation.

You have spoken my mind. Give him and official role

Reminds me of the Trumps

Nothing bad in what Seyi is doing.

He is not the first son of a president that will be involved with his dad. Nothing bad in following his dad to the Pope function. He just need to learn protocol better and he’ll improve.

If you watch the video, no one bounced him. The security guy only showed people where to stand coz shaking the pope is reserved for only head of states.

90% of those saying Seyi is wrong are only doing it coz they dislike his dad. If na their favorite politician son, they won’t say anything.

LegendHero:
Nothing bad in what Seyi is doing.

He is not the first son of a president that will be involved with his dad. Nothing bad in following his dad to the Pope function. He just need to learn protocol better and he’ll improve.

If you watch the video, no one bounced him. The security guy only showed people where to stand coz shaking the pope is reserved for only head of states.

90% of those saying Seyi is wrong are only doing it coz they dislike his dad. If na their favorite politician son, they won’t say anything.

Favorite politicians son?

Try and not always see things through tribal and political lenses. It will help you in life.

malali:
In a democratic republic, power is conferred by the constitution—not inherited by bloodline. Yet recent events involving Mr. Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are raising red flags that blur the line between public office and familial privilege.

The most brazen example occurred during the President’s recent visit to the Vatican, where Seyi was seen positioned between the President and his official security detail—including the ADC and bodyguards. That is not optics; that is a direct breach of security protocol and a quiet desecration of institutional order.

We ask—who allowed that?

The answer leads us to one door: Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff.

As the de facto manager of the President’s inner circle and the gatekeeper to Aso Rock, Gbajabiamila’s job is not to placate sycophants or accommodate nepotistic incursions, but to uphold the sanctity of the presidency. His silence and ive tolerance of Seyi Tinubu’s serial overreaches now border on complicity.

If you cannot manage access, then you are not managing the office.


A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident

This Vatican breach isn’t a one-off. Seyi has been seen on multiple state visits and strategic missions, often in positions that raise eyebrows:
• Standing where diplomats should be
• Appearing in protocol photos
• Sitting in on strategy sessions with no known official title

The symbolism is dangerous. Nigeria fought for independence, endured multiple coups, and survived military regimes to build a democracy, not a dynastic monarchy.

Other presidents have children too. Obasanjo. Jonathan. Buhari. Yet, we never saw their sons standing between the president and the State Protocol Unit at global forums. Their roles remained private—as it should be.

Sit the Boy Down. Period.

If no one has told Seyi Tinubu yet, let this be the memo:

“Being the son of the President does not confer you any constitutional role in statecraft. You are not an elected official. You are not a government appointee. You are not an heir to the Nigerian throne—because no such throne exists.”

There needs to be a clear, firm conversation—one that involves the Chief of Staff, the NSA, and the SGF. Let him know what he can and cannot do. If his proximity to power is not curbed, we risk building a model of entitlement as leadership, and bloodline as governance.

A Republic Must Look Like One

The very soul of a republic is its form: power must appear able, separated, meritocratic. Not familial. When presidential trips begin to resemble coronation parades, and the president’s son starts looking like the heir apparent, the nation begins to lose faith—not just in the leader, but in the system itself.

If Mr. Gbajabiamila will not course-correct, then perhaps he is no longer fit to be the gatekeeper of Nigeria’s most sacred executive office.

Gbajabiamila does not possess the amount of sense and political clout that you've ascribed to him

Sirianese:


Gbajabiamila does not possess the amount of sense and political clout that you've ascribed to him

But thats his Job, he is in charge of head of protocol.
These are all under chief of staff.

Everything has time.