By OBSERVERS TIMES
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address alleged attempts by his son, Seyi Tinubu, to influence the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Atiku, in a statement released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Friday, cautioned against treating Nigeria as a personal estate. The statement, titled “Tinubu Must Call His Family To Order: Nigeria Is Not A Private Estate,” followed allegations made by a factional NANS president, Comrade Atiku Isah.
Isah claimed that Seyi Tinubu offered him N100 million in Lagos to publicly endorse the president. He further alleged that upon rejecting the bribe, he was assaulted, stripped, and abducted by thugs on April 15.
Seyi Tinubu has denied these allegations, stating that he has never met Isah and accusing him of fabricating the story to damage his reputation.
Atiku Abubakar condemned the alleged attempts by the first family to intimidate and control NANS or any civil society organization through threats, financial inducements, or violence.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must urgently rein in his family members, particularly his son, Seyi Tinubu, who appears determined to purchase political loyalty for his father by any means necessary, including coercion, violence, and intimidation,” Atiku stated.
He described Isah’s allegations of physical assault, abduction, and inducement as “deeply alarming” and a threat to democratic norms and civil liberty. He also expressed concern over the alleged involvement of security officials in Seyi Tinubu’s activities.
“It is intolerable that the first family would seek to subjugate the NANS—or any civil society group—through threats, bribes, or brute force. Nigeria is a democratic republic, not a monarchy handed down to one family,” Atiku asserted.
He emphasized that Isah’s advocacy should be assessed based on facts, not falsehoods, and called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
Atiku also refuted claims of a political alliance with Isah, stating that his meeting with the NANS leader focused on education reform and student welfare.
“We issue a clear warning: nothing must happen to this young man. Any harm to him will not go unnoticed or unchallenged. Nigerians deserve truth, accountability, and a leadership that respects the rule of law—not a regime that weaponizes power to silence dissent,” Atiku concluded.
