Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President
Bola Tinubu to urgently caution his son, Seyi Tinubu, following serious
allegations of assault, abduction, and bribery made by the National President
of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isah.
In a statement released by the Atiku Media Office and signed
by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
presidential candidate described the accusations as “deeply alarming,” warning
that they strike at the heart of democratic values and civil liberties.
“The grave accusations made by Comrade Atiku Isah — alleging
physical assault, abduction, and inducement by Seyi Tinubu — are disturbing and
dangerous,” the statement read.
“If the incident had ended fatally, it would have been
counted among the many atrocities perpetrated by criminal elements in the
country.”
Atiku expressed deep concern over reports suggesting that
even high-ranking security officials may be compromised by Seyi Tinubu’s
alleged influence. He warned that such actions could further erode public
confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“It is intolerable for the first family to attempt to
control a civil society body like NANS through coercion, bribery, or brute
force,” Atiku said. “Nigeria is a democracy, not a monarchy handed from father
to son.”
The former Vice President rejected claims linking him to the
controversy, clarifying that his meeting with Comrade Isah focused exclusively
on education reform and student welfare. He emphasized that any attempt to
politicize the encounter was both “baseless and malicious.”
He called for an independent investigation into the
allegations, given that the agencies charged with protecting citizens may have
been compromised in the process.
“We issue a clear warning: nothing must happen to this young
man. Any harm to him will not go unnoticed or unchallenged,” the statement
added.
Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, rule of law,
and national development through education, stating he would not be distracted
by “false narratives or cowardly intimidation.”
The allegations against Seyi Tinubu come amid growing public
scrutiny of the role of the first family in political affairs, with critics
warning against the abuse of power and overreach by unelected figures.
