Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, is qualified to vie for any political office in the country, including the governorship of Lagos State.
Bwala, speaking on The Clarity Zone podcast posted on YouTube, dismissed claims that Seyi’s political visibility stems solely from his father’s influence.
He maintained that the younger Tinubu has earned recognition as a bridge-builder among Nigerian youths.
“If Seyi Tinubu’s father is the president, what stops him from running for Lagos State governor? Seyi Tinubu can even challenge his father in the next election,” Bwala said.
The presidential aide described Seyi as humble and unassuming despite his privileged background as the son of a former Lagos governor and now the country’s president.
According to him, Seyi has sustained long-standing friendships and created opportunities for many young people in government, even across political divides.
“At a point, he was even criticised for the people he brought into government, who were mostly Obidients. That tells you he doesn’t have biases,” Bwala explained.
He recalled occasions when he publicly criticised the Tinubu administration without it affecting his personal relationship with Seyi, stressing that the younger Tinubu has shown the maturity to separate friendship from politics.
Bwala added that, unlike many children of past Nigerian leaders, Seyi Tinubu has not been linked to scandals or public controversies.
“You will never see him attacking people on social media, even though his father is one of the most vilified in recent memory. He has built relationships even with critics of this government,” he said.
He further argued that Nigerians should judge Seyi on personal encounters rather than inherited perceptions.
“Until you experience somebody, don’t have an opinion of them. Too many people inherit other people’s problems without any personal encounter,” he added.