Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, is facing public criticism for renaming a road in the state after Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
The road, previously known as “Pepsi Road,” was set to be inaugurated on June 3 by Katsina state governor, Umaru Dikko Radda, but the event was postponed.
A photo of the renamed “Seyi Ahmed Bola Tinubu Road” went viral on social media on Saturday, sparking controversy ahead of its rescheduled commissioning, which has yet to be announced.
Critics argue that Seyi Tinubu has not made significant contributions to Sokoto or Nigeria to deserve such an honor. “The governor overlooked many distinguished Sokoto natives and instead named a road after the president’s son, who is not from Sokoto or the northern region,” said resident Salisu Ahmadu.
Social media users also expressed their disapproval. One user, @UncleAnass, shared a photo of the renamed road and criticized the governor’s decision as denigrating to Sokoto. Another user, Heinz_Gunner, commented, “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 impress the president.
@AsIngawa001 remarked, “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.”
Efforts to reach Abubakar Bawa, the spokesperson for the Sokoto governor, for comments were unsuccessful.
Although Seyi Tinubu holds no official position in his father’s government, he is considered influential within the APC and has been seen accompanying his father on international trips. He was notably barred from attending a Federal Executive Council meeting a few months ago.
