Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed strong disapproval of what he described as a “military parade” conducted in honour of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
A viral video recently surfaced online, appearing to show Seyi inspecting a guard mounted in his honour by a group of armed individuals in a military-style procession.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Abubakar criticized the event as a gross violation of military tradition and called for an investigation to uncover its legitimacy.
“Nigerians were subjected to a disturbing video circulating online, where a group of young men, armed and in full military procession, conferred unwarranted military honours upon the President’s son,” the statement read.
The former vice president identified the group as the ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’ claiming it is not a recognized entity within the Nigerian Armed Forces. He described the use of the term ‘Cadet,’ traditionally associated with trained military personnel, as misleading and an exploitation of military traditions by civilians.
“Our legal team and military experts investigated the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network’ and found that it is not a legally registered entity,” Abubakar stated. “Even more concerning is the use of firearms by civilians during this so-called parade, especially at a time when the proliferation of illegal arms poses a significant threat to our nation.”
Abubakar called for an investigation into the group’s legitimacy, the legality of the firearms displayed, and the propriety of the military honours accorded to the president’s son by a civilian organization under security personnel’s protection.
He emphasized the need to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces, urging security agencies to hold anyone found culpable accountable.
“If it is established that any legal violations were committed by the President’s son or members of this so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’ it is the constitutional duty of Nigerian security agencies to ensure that justice is served,” he said.
