The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing statement, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, of assault, intimidation, and political coercion, following explosive allegations by the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Atiku Isah.
In a press release dated May 2, 2025, and signed by Paul Ibe, the Atiku Media Office called on President Tinubu to “rein in his family members,” warning that Nigeria “is not a private estate” to be handed down or run by political dynasties.
The statement condemned the reported physical assault, abduction, and inducement allegedly suffered by Comrade Isah at the hands of Seyi Tinubu, describing the incident as a direct threat to civil liberties and a dangerous overreach of executive privilege.
“Had this incident ended fatally, it would have been one more statistic in the growing list of unpunished atrocities across Nigeria,” the statement read. “That this is tied to the son of the President makes it even more horrifying.”
The Atiku camp also raised concerns over alleged complicity of state security operatives in the ordeal, suggesting that Seyi Tinubu may have leveraged high-level connections to suppress dissent and enforce political loyalty.
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“It is intolerable that the First Family would seek to subjugate NANS or any civil organisation through threats, bribes, or brute force,” the statement added. “This country is a democratic republic, not a monarchy.”
Rejecting attempts to implicate Atiku in the controversy, the media office clarified that his recent meeting with the student leader was solely focused on national education reform and student welfare, not politics or alliances.
The statement ended with a stern warning that “nothing must happen” to Comrade Isah, adding that “Nigerians deserve truth, accountability, and a leadership that respects the rule of law — not a regime that weaponizes power to silence dissent.”
The allegations come amid increasing public scrutiny of presidential family members and their growing political visibility, with calls mounting for transparency and restraint within the corridors of power.