Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the State House security office, instructing them to prevent his son, Seyi Tinubu, and other individuals from disrupting meetings of the Federal Executive Council.
Tinubu noticed that Seyi and other unauthorized individuals were freely entering and leaving the weekly Federal Cabinet caucus meetings, where critical national issues were discussed.
He emphasized the need for such actions to immediately cease.
“Last week, I noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this council,” Mr. Tinubu said as the executive council was called to order on Monday. “I saw the photograph of my son, Seyi, sitting behind the cubicle there. That is not acceptable.”
Following that, Tinubu provided a list of aides who should participate in future meetings. Among those mentioned by Mr. Tinubu were Hadiza Usman, the policy adviser; Bayo Onanuga, the information adviser; Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the principal secretary; and Damilotun Aderemi, the private secretary.
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“Those are people who are granted exception to be here when we’re conducting the business of the nation. Unless I sent for you, don’t come,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu asked cabinet secretary George Akume to take note of the instruction.
“Unless your staff that are included, no one is privileged to have access sitting in this (Council Chambers), except those four that I’ve announced to you”, Tinubu said.
The revelation poses a significant threat to Seyi Tinubu’s perceived dominance and the façade of access he has been projecting to the public ever since accompanying his father to Abuja, despite holding no official position in the administration.
Prior to his father’s inauguration on May 29, Seyi served as an advertising executive in Lagos.
Nevertheless, he has been observed traveling on the president’s private jet and receiving recognition for his purported influence on government policies.
Just last month, he made a conspicuous trip to Kano on a presidential jet, an act that left both the president and other State House officials discomfited.
When contacted by The Gazette for comments on his father’s actions, he did not respond immediately.
The individuals granted statutory access to the federal executive council meeting encompass the vice-president, all ministers, the cabinet secretary, the head of service, the national security adviser, and the president’s special media adviser.