Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in his son, Seyi Tinubu, following serious allegations of bribery, assault, and abduction involving the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Atiku, in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, warned against treating Nigeria as “a private estate” and urged the Tinubu family to respect democratic norms and civil liberties. The statement was titled: “Tinubu Must Call His Family To Order: Nigeria Is Not A Private Estate.”
The controversy began on Wednesday when a factional NANS President, Comrade Atiku Isah, alleged that Seyi Tinubu attempted to bribe him with ₦100 million in Lagos in exchange for public support of President Tinubu’s administration. Isah claimed that after rejecting the offer, he was physically assaulted, stripped, and abducted by thugs on April 15.
Seyi Tinubu has denied the allegations, stating that he had never met Isah and accused him of concocting the story to defame him.
Reacting to the unfolding drama, Atiku condemned what he described as an “unacceptable” attempt by the First Family to intimidate civil society using coercion and violence. He warned that the allegations, if true, strike at the heart of democratic values and compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s security institutions.
“It is intolerable that the first family would seek to subjugate 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,” the statement read.
Atiku urged Nigerians to speak out, stressing that the presidency is a public trust, not a private inheritance. He also rejected insinuations that he has a political alliance with Isah, clarifying that their meeting was solely about education reform and student welfare, areas he has supported through institutions like the American University of Nigeria.
The former Vice President demanded an independent investigation into the allegations and warned that any harm to Comrade Isah would not be ignored.
“We issue a clear warning: nothing must happen to this young man. Nigerians deserve truth, accountability, and leadership that respects the rule of law — not a regime that weaponises power to silence dissent,” Atiku concluded.
As the allegations continue to stir political tension, civil society groups and student bodies have called for transparency, urging the government to uphold democratic values and ensure justice is served.
