By Mallam Idris Jibril
Coalition of Progressives Youth Groups
Abuja, Nigeria
We wish to categorically refute the spurious and baseless allegations made by one Atiku Abubakar Isah, a self-acclaimed President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who alleged that Mr. Seyi Tinubu offered him a bribe of One Hundred Million Naira (₦100,000,000) and allegedly led thugs to assault him at the Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Let it be firmly stated that Mr. Seyi Tinubu has never been a member of the student body. The attempt to associate him with the internal leadership crisis of NANS is not only mischievous but politically motivated and patently false. These claims are a desperate act of blackmail and defamation aimed at tarnishing the image of Mr. Seyi Tinubu is a private citizen with a well-documented history of youth empowerment and philanthropy.
It is worth noting that the NANS convention was duly conducted between February 25th and 28th, 2025 in Abuja, and Atiku Abubakar Isah was not a registered aspirant, neither was he recognized by the convention committee or stakeholders of the student body. His unilateral declaration of himself as President of NANS outside the framework of the association’s constitution is not only a breach of decorum but a continuation of the disturbing trend of self-imposition that has plagued NANS in recent years.
Furthermore, the individual in question, Atiku Abubakar Isah, is in his 50s, a far cry from the age bracket typically associated with student representation. His long and controversial history within student activism, dating back to the early 2000s, has been characterized by mental instability and erratic behavior, as corroborated by several past associates and public figures, including His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, under whose political movement (Kwankwasiyya) Mr. Isah once served as a Kogi State Youth Coordinator.
This unfolding drama reveals deeper problems within the structure of NANS, particularly the lack of due diligence, credible verification of leadership claims, and the urgent need for comprehensive reform. If the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) can rightly set an upper age limit of 30 years for participation, NANS must urgently introduce constitutional amendments to enforce age and eligibility criteria. Student leadership must be preserved as a credible nursery for grooming Nigeria’s future leaders, not a playground for middle-aged political mercenaries and impostors.
We call on the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Education, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force, to thoroughly investigate this incident, expose the truth, and hold those who peddle falsehoods accountable. This culture of weaponizing false narratives for political vendetta must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Mr. Seyi Tinubu remains committed to the development of Nigerian youth through lawful, transparent, and impactful initiatives. He will not be distracted by desperate attempts to drag his name into the mud by individuals seeking relevance through mischief and chaos.