The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala has said that the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, is not only qualified to contest for any political office in Nigeria but could even challenge his father in a future presidential election.
Speaking on The Clarity Zone podcast posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Bwala dismissed claims that Seyi’s political relevance was tied only to his father’s influence.
He argued instead, that the younger Tinubu has earned a reputation as a bridge-builder among the youth.
“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.
He described Seyi as humble and unassuming despite his privileged background as the son of a former Lagos governor and now Nigeria’s president.
According to him, Seyi has maintained long-standing friendships and has supported many young people in securing opportunities 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,” he explained.
Bwala also recalled moments when he openly criticised the Tinubu administration without it affecting his relationship with Seyi, noting that the president’s son has the maturity to separate personal relationships from politics.
He further stressed 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,” Bwala added.
He urged Nigerians to judge Seyi Tinubu based 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 said.
