Power, indeed, reveals. We are all taught the Lord Acton saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. If you are in doubt, look in the direction of President Tinubu’s son, Seyi. Since his father was declared President of Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (even in controversial circumstances), 38 year-old Seyi has not stopped to rivet public attention. Sometimes he craves for it. If there’s none, he creates one. Unlike his taciturn older brother Jide, who passed away in London, October 2017, Seyi is by every measure, a show off. He has this histrionic personality. His self-esteem seems to depend on his overwhelming desire to be noticed. And sometimes, he behaves dramatically or in ways some have described as inappropriate. That’s why in recent times, he has been accused of abusing public assets, often flying in Presidential jets for private trips. But Seyi is not alone in that regard despite public condemnation.
Perhaps the President’s family is borrowing from the playbook of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, whose youngest daughter, Hanan, in January, 2020, was chauffeured to Bauchi state in presidential jet for purely private visit. The presidency then, strongly defended her, saying “she belongs to the group of special Nigerians entitled to fly presidential jet”. But Seyi has gone many steps ahead of Hanan. For his admirers and associates, he is a ‘go-to guy’, trusted, dependable, with awesome power, an influencer working his way through the informal channels of power to know how it works and leverage on it. Yes, after all, isn’t ‘power where power goes’? (to borrow the cliché of a former President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson).
But the way Seyi Tinubu has been carrying on since his father became Nigeria’s number one citizen, is reminiscent of Absalom, the son of King David (2 Samuel Chapters 14, 15, 16 & 18). There is this sense that this guy, Seyi, seeks the father’s power like Absalom did. If attitude shows character, Seyi seems to be telling anybody who cares to listen, ‘my father does not have time for everyone. Tell me what you want, and I will make it happen’. He gives the impression, the sense that the whole of Nigeria is now his province, not just the ‘Prince of Bourdillon’ or the De jure Governor of Lagos state. That’s what influence-peddling schemers do. The profits from playing the heir apparent posture comes with hefty benefits beyond wads of cash. For those who claim to know, the scope of Seyi’s fortune if it’s to be measured in cash, can only be compared to, in the words of a foreign journalist, what the Catholic church gets from its Sunday collections’. For much that is known, Seyi is the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Loatsad Promonedia.
While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, it forcefully demonstrates the immense power, the unfettered access this young man has in the corridors of presidential power. It is important that his overbearing behaviour has caught the attention of the President. At a recent meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the highest decision making organ of government , President Tinubu said, “I have noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this Council, including my son Seyi, sitting behind the cubicle there. That is not acceptable”. He directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Head of Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, to take note of his order. That is commendable. He also warned that henceforth, “no one should have access to the FEC meeting unless they are granted permission”.
Did the President’s directive catch any fire with those he has given the orders to enforce? Will that deter his son from attending further FEC meetings, or be eavesdropping somewhere close to the meetings? Why has the high-level security personnel at the Presidential Villa and at the entrances to the FEC meeting been unable to stop Seyi until now? Why didn’t the President ask the security officials to send him away immediately he spotted him? Those permitted to attend FEC meetings include the Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the federation, all ministers, the Head of Civil Service of the federation and some top presidential aides. That is the rule. It has not changed. Does Seyi fall into any of this category of members?
I am not aware that any president’s son had attended FEC meeting in this democratic dispensation for the present matter of Seyi. Let’s hope the father’s stern warning will deter him. It will be in the best interest of his father’s presidency. The President should be careful to avoid what harm his son could cause him, if not now, in the future. If in doubt, ask U.S President Joe Biden, the kind of trouble his scandal-plagued son, Hunter is causing his presidency. Donald Trump, in spite of his proclivities to errors and self-destruct tendencies, never allowed his two older sons, Donald Jr., and Eric to have access to White House meetings. It’s about institutions a country builds that its elected officials must follow. The foundation of anything you do is very critical to democracy. For the family members of the President, the advice has always been: Guide your feet in the way of peace so that you know where to trend.
Seyi seems to have followed the path of Absalom. Such irascible behaviour has consequences. Perhaps it’s important to critical look at some of Absalom’s missteps as recorded in 2 Samuel 15:1-6( Amplified Bible). “After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses, and 50 men to run before him. And he rose up early and stood beside the gateway, and when any man who has a case came to the King( David)for Judgment, Absalom called to him, of what city are you? And he would say, your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel. Absalom would say to him, your claims are good and right, but there’s no man appointed as the King’s agent to hear you. I wish I were a judge in the land, every man with any case might come to me and I will do him justice. Absalom did to all Israel who came to the King for Judgment. He stole the hearts of the men of Israel”.
Did you see that? Isn’t that what Seyi Tinubu is reported to doing? He has associates going around with him. ‘Whatever my father cannot do, I will make it happen’, Absalom was telling people who had come to see his father, for one case or the other, even favours in form of contracts. That’s why people are flocking to this young man (Seyi) like bees to honey. Take the example of his trip last month in Presidential jet to Kano, to watch the final of Polo tournament, for which he’s a big fan anyway. As reported in the newspapers, Seyi was received on arrival at the Aminu Kano International Airport by some officials of the presidency, the Kano state government and Kano Polo Club.
According to Premium Times account, Seyi was thereafter chauffeured to the Usman Dantata Polo Ground amid tight security by gun wielding detachments of the Nigeria Police and State Security Service officials. At end of the tournament, the waiting Presidential jet transported him and his friends back to Abuja where he currently lives since his father became President. Reading this, who doesn’t want to be the son of a President, with all the perks and pleasures at his disposal? But not this way. Absalom’s spirit comes with some nuisance value that could have collateral reputational cost to the man in the saddle. Pride is poisonous, very dangerous. That’s why the Bible advises us never to do anything that is founded on a wrong premise, for the scent of power could lead to downfall.
Those whose parents are in political and political power should give adequate attention to mood of the country, the needs and conditions of the people, the transient and vanities of power. For whatever it is worth, President Tinubu did well by condemning the sticky behaviour of his son. Some political families do have them. In his memoir, titled, MAN OF THE HOUSE, former Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill , recalled what American politics was when the Kennedys emerged in the political scene. As O’Neill recalled, “money didn’t mean anything to Joe Kennedy (father of JFK, Robert and Edward), as there seemed to be no limits to his wealth”. The word was, “if Joe Kennedy liked you, he’d give you fifty thousand dollars. If he really liked you, he’d give you a hundred thousand dollars” His children basked in the sunshine of their father’s stupendous wealth. People said any time the family had a party, some single girls in town showed up in the “hope that lightning would strike”, because then, Jack was still a bachelor – a bachelor who happened to be the son of a millionaire. JFK who later became President was said to have what Americans called a “warm hand”, and “women melt when he looked into their eyes”. He certainly knew how to charm the ladies, and he always made a point, in the words of O’Neill, “of appealing to what he called “womanpower, the untapped resources”. Joe Kennedy admitted that when you have children who have had so much done for them by their father, they just assume the whole world is their fiefdom. This is one of the many sunny aspects of politics that Seyi Tinubu may be cashing in on right now. He may be saying, ‘Let me enjoy jaree, while the party lasts’. But be careful of the enemy in the corner, for not all your friends and associates that swarm around you are not your real friends or that of your Dad. Wait for your turn! Absalom’s story will serve you well. Indeed.