Laolu Akande, former Presidential aide, has reignited debate on Nigeria’s governance structure and security priorities, drawing a striking comparison between the security detail assigned to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, and that of Barron, son of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Akande expanded the conversation beyond the immediate controversy to examine the broader excesses enabled by Nigeria’s presidential system of government, the capacity of civil defence operatives, and the challenges of security reform.
Speaking at the Wole Soyinka Investigative Journalism Awards, which held earlier in the week, the Nobel Laureate had lamented the huge security around Tinubu’s son.
The issue had trended, particularly online, but there was no formal response from the Presidency.
Speaking when he appeared on Channels Television, Akande said, “I don’t think Prof. Soyinka was saying Seyi should not be protected. He was saying we must do it moderately. But this is part of the excesses of the presidential system. And it’s not peculiar to Nigeria,”
He cited reports that Barron Trump had nearly 30 Secret Service agents securing him while attending school in New York, underscoring how even the American presidential system involves significant protection details — but within a more functional governance framework.
He argued that Nigeria must reconsider and ultimately abandon the presidential system altogether.
“This is why we need to terminate the presidential system. A presidential system is too expensive. It allows the president to be cocooned in the Villa. That system is not useful for us. This is one example. We don’t have the luxury for all of these excesses,” he stated.
Akande also spoke on the recent policy by the federal government to ban police officers from providing VIP escort duties, an initiative intended to redirect police personnel toward community policing efforts.
While supportive of the principle, he warned that the policy cannot succeed in isolation.
“So that policy cannot stand alone. It must include the fact that—what are we doing to mobilise those police people? Because many of them get some kind of welfare when they do those VIP, VVIP jobs. They get some additional welfare beyond their regular pay,” he explained.
He noted that redeploying officers back to communities, especially in states grappling with serious security challenges, is a positive step but cautioned that the transition may take longer than anticipated due to logistical and welfare-related factors.
“The idea is good for community security, but I don’t think it’s going to happen as quickly as many expect. To the extent that it can go on, that will seem to be what is right,” Akande said.
“The other question is the readiness of the civil defence to take over that responsibility. These are quite interesting conversations.”
Akande agreed with Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka’s criticism of the large security convoy accompanying Seyi Tinubu, asserting that the president’s directive on reducing security excesses should apply universally — including to members of the First Family.
On the broader issue of policing and insecurity, Akande stressed that while refocusing officers on community safety is essential, it requires far more than policy declarations.
“Yes, we should have the police secure the community, but it will require a lot more.”
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