Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the recent military-style parade conducted in honor of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. Atiku described the incident as a blatant violation of military norms and called for an in-depth investigation into the matter.
In a statement issued by his media office and signed by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Atiku expressed shock and outrage over the event. He labeled it a significant deviation from established military traditions for any faction of the Armed Forces to organize a formal parade for an individual who is not a recognized public official.
However, the Nigerian Army has denied any involvement in the Quarter Guard salute seen in the viral video, which has stirred controversy online. The video shows Seyi Tinubu being saluted by a group resembling a military Quarter Guard during his visit to Abeokuta, Ogun State. Following the salute, he also inspected the parade.
Seyi Tinubu was in Abeokuta to attend the inaugural youth summit and empowerment program themed “Renewed Hope Agenda: A Concrete Foundation for a Prosperous Nigeria.” The summit, organized by the CityBoy Movement, Ogun State chapter, saw Seyi Tinubu, as the founder and grand patron of the movement, award grants totaling N14 million to five young tech innovators in the state.
Despite initial assumptions that the Quarter Guard was a unit of the Nigerian military, a group identified as the Community Auxiliary Development & Effective Transformation Network has claimed responsibility for the parade. The leader of the group, in a video statement, refuted allegations of impersonating the Nigerian Armed Forces. He clarified that his organization had no connection to the Nigerian Army and did not adopt military ranking systems.
In response, Atiku issued a statement condemning the act, describing it as deeply troubling and an affront to military traditions. He expressed alarm at the sight of what appeared to be armed civilians in a formal military procession, which he deemed unwarranted and inappropriate for the President’s son.
Atiku further raised questions about the legitimacy of the group involved in the parade, particularly its use of the name “Nigeria Cadet Network.” He noted that the term “Cadet” typically refers to young individuals undergoing formal military training, and its exploitation by a civilian group posed a threat to the integrity of the Armed Forces.
“In light of this disturbing event, we have instructed our legal team and military experts to investigate the so-called ‘Nigeria Cadet Network,’” Atiku said. “It is no surprise that the group is not a legally registered entity.”
Atiku also expressed concern over the apparent use of firearms by civilians in the parade. He highlighted the dangers posed by the proliferation of illegal arms in Nigeria, emphasizing that the incident raises serious security concerns.
“This brazen display of civilian misuse of military symbolism is a clear mockery of our esteemed military traditions,” Atiku concluded, urging the authorities to take swift action to address the issue.
