Don’t say Haaaa! Before you begin to wag your tongue, let me make something abundantly clear: Seyi Tinubu is not feeding me!
I am not a member of the City Boys! I am just a local man from Usi-Ekiti, with my own mind, my own convictions and an independent voice that is neither for sale nor available for hire!
Seyi Tinubu Is Not My God, and I Owe Him Nothing
It is those of you who cringe and crawl before influential personalities in desperate pursuit of appointments, contracts, money and political favours who may find yourselves too encumbered to tell them the truth!
Seyi Tinubu may be your god. He is certainly not mine! I owe him nothing! He owes me nothing! I am not seeking his favour or applying for admission into his political household.
If I find something deserving of criticism, I will criticise it. If I observe something deserving of commendation, I will commend it!
Must I manufacture hatred simply because the man is the President’s son? Must every favourable opinion have a financial sponsor?
My pen is not a begging bowl!
Why Did Seyi Tinubu Leave the Presidential Enclosure?
Now, let me tell you about this young man.
What is wrong with him? Who offended him? Who told him that being the President’s son means he must expose himself to the scorching sun, unpredictable rain and suffocating enthusiasm of Nigerian political crowds?
Haba! What a stubborn goat! A goat that has refused to remain comfortably within the presidential enclosure!
Where Are Their Children? Seyi Tinubu Answers Nigeria’s Question
For years, Nigerians have confronted politicians with one embarrassing question: WHERE ARE THEIR CHILDREN?
Where are they when ordinary Nigerians are trekking, sweating, shouting, dancing and campaigning for their fathers? Are they in London? America? Or somewhere enjoying themselves while other people’s children do the political sweating?
And the irony? Whether they participate or not, they can still enjoy the privileges associated with their fathers’ offices! They need not carry campaign banners, sweat under the sun or dance in the rain before being recognised as members of the First Family!
Then comes Seyi Tinubu! This troublesome young man!
Instead of remaining comfortably behind his father’s political structure, he joined campaign activities, engaged young people, appeared at political gatherings and openly associated himself with his father’s presidential ambition.
Let us be sincere. How many sons of Nigerian presidential candidates have been so visibly involved in campaigning for their fathers? How many have exposed themselves to the discomfort, pressure and public scrutiny of mass political mobilisation?
I am not suggesting that no politician’s child has ever participated in a campaign. But Seyi’s visibility provides a practical answer to that familiar question: WHERE ARE THEIR CHILDREN?
Well, here is one!
No Gra-Gra: How Seyi Tinubu Carries His Father’s Name
But what particularly interests me is not merely his participation. IT IS THE MANNER IN WHICH HE GOES ABOUT IT!
No gra-gra! No unnecessary display of power! No deliberate exhibition of presidential-son superiority!
From what I have personally observed, Seyi appears approachable, mingling with young people, older citizens and elders without making his father’s position an instrument of intimidation.
Seyi! Are you sure you understand that your father is the President? Where is the intimidating swagger? Where is the familiar “Do you know who my father is?”
To me, there is a difference between carrying your father’s name as a weapon and carrying it as a responsibility!
Why Seyi Tinubu Must Be Protected
But wait! There is another matter. SEYI TINUBU MUST BE PROTECTED! Adequately and professionally!
You know Nigerians! We can overdo things! Everybody wants a handshake, a photograph or a hug. Some want to touch his clothes, while others will force their way through a crowd merely to announce that they have greeted the President’s son!
Haba! Must admiration become a wrestling competition? Must affection become a security threat? This is Nigeria!
His simplicity must never become a security liability, and his willingness to mingle with the people must not expose him to avoidable danger.
I have occasionally noticed what appears to be excessive enthusiasm among some security personnel around him. Interestingly, I have also observed what seems to be his effort to moderate such conduct.
But let nobody misunderstand me! Security personnel must be allowed to perform their duties! They must be vigilant without being arrogant, firm without being brutal and protective without unnecessarily intimidating the people.
Seyi himself must recognise that security protocols sometimes take precedence over the desire to embrace every admirer. After all, what is the benefit of going out to meet the people if one cannot return home safely?
Seyi Tinubu Deserves Praise and Encouragement
Now, back to the stubborn goat! The son who stepped into the political arena rather than remaining an invisible beneficiary of his father’s political journey!
He deserves to be praised! He deserves to be encouraged! He deserves recognition for choosing to participate openly rather than remaining behind the curtains of presidential privilege.
And above all, he deserves protection from overzealous admirers whose enthusiasm may become a danger to the very person they love.
Seyi! For this, I praise you! For this, I encourage you!
Continue to appreciate the dignity of ordinary Nigerians and the responsibility that accompanies your privileged position. Go on with your act! Continue to mingle! Continue to demonstrate that being the son of a President need not mean living permanently behind the intimidating walls of presidential privilege!
Why Seyi Tinubu Is the GOAT
But wait! Did I call Seyi Tinubu a useless goat? Yes! I did! And I have deliberately called him a stubborn goat throughout this article!
But who told you I was talking about the four-legged animal? Hahahahahaha!
SEYI TINUBU IS A GOAT!
G is for GREATEST
O is for OF
A is for ALL
T is for TIME!
Now you understand! THE GOAT THAT REFUSED TO HIDE BEHIND HIS FATHER!
Zain Go Be! Walai!
Disclaimer: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Reporters at Large.
