, Bode George, have criticized Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, for reviewing a guard of honour mounted by youths in military-style uniforms in Ogun State.){kind=link}
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, have criticized Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, for reviewing a guard of honour mounted by youths in military-style uniforms in Ogun State.
The two leaders reacted to a viral video showing Seyi Tinubu overseeing a military-like ceremony, which they described as a serious breach of military tradition.
Atiku called for a full investigation into the incident, while George labeled the act as inappropriate and unprecedented.
Atiku, through his Media Adviser Paul Ibe, expressed his outrage, describing the event as a violation of established military norms.
“It is with shock and deep concern that Nigerians were subjected to this disturbing video, where a group of young men, dressed in military attire and armed, granted unwarranted military honours to the President’s son,” Atiku stated.
Atiku further questioned the legitimacy of the group involved, identifying it as the “Nigeria Cadet Network,” which he noted was not recognized within the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He expressed alarm over the misuse of the term “Cadet,” which is traditionally reserved for formally trained military personnel, and said the act aimed to undermine the integrity of military traditions.
“At the request of my legal team and military experts, we launched an investigation into the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network.’ To our surprise, the group is not legally registered. Even more troubling is the illegal use of firearms by civilians in this parade, especially at a time when the proliferation of illegal arms is a grave concern in Nigeria,” Atiku said.
He stressed the importance of upholding the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces, calling for accountability if any legal violations were found.
“If it is determined that any laws were broken by the President’s son or members of this unregistered group, it is the responsibility of Nigerian security agencies to ensure justice is served,” he added.
Former military governor of Ondo State, Bode George, also condemned the act, describing it as irresponsible. He advised Seyi Tinubu to avoid actions that could damage his reputation or that of his father. “Even during military rule, no child of a Head of State ever participated in such acts,” George pointed out.
George cited the example of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s son, a Brigadier in the Nigerian Army, who never took part in such displays of military honour on behalf of his father. He urged Seyi Tinubu to avoid being influenced by those pushing him to engage in controversial actions.
He concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining respect for military traditions and public trust in leadership, advising Seyi to steer clear of actions that could spark criticism.