Sokoto state governor, Ahmad Aliyu, faces public backlash after renaming a local road in honor of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
Previously known as “Pepsi Road,” the road was scheduled to be inaugurated on June 3 by Katsina state governor, Umaru Dikko Radda, but the event was postponed.
On Saturday, images of the newly renamed “Seyi Ahmed Bola Tinubu Road” circulated widely on social media, sparking controversy ahead of its rescheduled commissioning, the date for which remains unannounced.
Critics argue that Seyi Tinubu has not made significant contributions to Sokoto or Nigeria to warrant such recognition. “The governor ignored many distinguished Sokoto natives and instead named a road after the president’s son, who is neither from Sokoto nor the northern region,” resident Salisu Ahmadu told Peoples Gazette.
Social media users also voiced their discontent. An X user, @UncleAnass, shared a photo of the renamed road and criticized the governor’s decision, calling it a denigration of Sokoto’s name. Another user, Heinz_Gunner, remarked, “Road to North Korea. This is how it begins!!,” while @jnraib2 pointed out that even Lagos hadn’t named a road after Seyi Tinubu, suggesting the Sokoto governor’s move was an attempt to curry favor with the president.
@AsIngawa001 added, “Seyi Tinubu road in Sokoto State stands as a testament to Nigeria’s practice of celebrating individuals with little or no contribution to the country’s progress.”
Attempts to reach Abubakar Bawa, the spokesperson for the Sokoto governor, for comments were unsuccessful.
Despite holding no official position in his father’s government, Seyi Tinubu is perceived as influential within the APC and has been seen accompanying his father on international trips. Notably, he was barred from attending a Federal Executive Council meeting a few months ago.
Leave a Reply