Group condemns online report against Seyi Tinubu

The Friends of Seyi Tinubu (FOST) has strongly condemned an online publication for falsely accusing Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of ordering the abduction and brutalisation of Atiku Abubakar Isah, who claims to be the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

In a statement signed by FOST’s president, Adejorin Tai Manuel, the group described the allegations as “shameful, reckless, and completely unfounded”, stating that Seyi Tinubu has no interest in NANS politics and wouldn’t stoop to orchestrating violence against someone unknown to him.

The group also questioned Atiku’s legitimacy as NANS president, citing that NANS hasn’t held 125 conventions since its founding in 1980, and Atiku didn’t participate in any legitimate electoral process.

FOST emphasised the need for holistic accountability, urging citizens to question their local government chairmen, state governors, and legislators about their use of resources. The group called for Seyi Tinubu’s exoneration from the “senseless propaganda” and urged Nigerians to reject impostors using NANS’ name to scam and manipulate the public.

“The Friends of Seyi Tinubu (FOST) condemn in strong terms the malicious publication by an online media dated April 16, 2025, alleging that Mr. Seyi Tinubu, son of the President, ordered thugs to abduct and brutalize one Atiku Abubakar Isah, who claims to be the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). This desperate attempt to drag the name of Mr. Seyi Tinubu into a manufactured student crisis is shameful, reckless, and completely unfounded.

“It is disappointing that the online media would publish such a weighty accusation without carrying out proper journalistic investigation. Mr. Seyi Tinubu is a young, focused, and accomplished individual who has no time, business, or interest in the politics of NANS, let alone stooping so low as to orchestrate violence against someone who is clearly unknown to him. The claim that Seyi Tinubu even recognizes or acknowledges Comrade Atiku as a threat or enemy is laughable and clearly fabricated. Seyi Tinubu is not a member of NANS, not a patron, nor is he involved in any student political process. He remains committed to his personal and national development engagements, which are far beyond the narrow scope of campus politics.

“It is important to clarify that Atiku Abubakar Isah does not represent Nigerian students. His claims of being elected at the so-called “125th NANS Convention” are factually incorrect and devoid of logic. NANS, which was founded in 1980, has not held up to 125 conventions in its history. Atiku did not attend the last constitutionally recognized NANS convention, nor did he participate in any legitimate electoral process. There is no record of any election conducted that produced him. He has no known executive council, no vice president, no secretary-general, no financial secretary, or any EXCO member to support his claims. He merely woke up, declared himself president, and began parading the title across media platforms without mandate or legitimacy.

“One wonders who Atiku represents, where his mandate originated from, and how Sahara Reporters failed to ask the most basic questions about his legitimacy before giving him a platform to spread lies. The so-called “election” that produced him remains invisible, with no evidence of senator participation or institutional backing. He has been rejected by the mainstream NANS community, and the public deserves to know that the association operates with structure and order not propaganda.

“Dragging the name of Seyi Tinubu into this charade is a calculated smear campaign designed to attract public sympathy and give credibility to a failed quest for recognition. But Nigerians are wiser than that. Seyi Tinubu has no business with impostors. His focus remains on uplifting youth, driving entrepreneurship, and contributing meaningfully to the nation’s development—not getting entangled in student leadership dramas. It is therefore absurd and insulting that a man of his pedigree would be linked to such crude behavior.

“As this drama continues to unfold, we must also address the broader national discourse. Why is it that only the President is constantly called out, while state governors who also receive monthly allocations and bear great responsibility for local governance are shielded from accountability? If every governor showed the same level of dedication and effort that the President displays daily, Nigeria would be in a far better position.

“As this drama continues to unfold, it is equally important to redirect national discourse toward the true custodians of public accountability. It is disturbing to see how some public figures, like Eedris Abdulkareem, continually focus their criticisms solely on the President, as though he alone bears the burden of Nigeria’s development. While constructive criticism is healthy for democracy, it becomes misleading when the conversation ignores the critical roles played by state governors, lawmakers, members of the House of Representatives, and senators who receive monthly allocations and hold direct responsibility for their constituencies. Nigerians must begin to ask: how many of these elected officials are truly delivering on their mandates? Where is the evidence of judicious use of the funds allocated to them? Why is the same intensity of public scrutiny not extended to these individuals?

“It is no longer enough to simply point fingers at the Presidency. Accountability must be holistic and evenly distributed. Citizens must rise above selective criticism and begin to question what their local government chairmen, state governors, and legislators are doing with the resources entrusted to them. This is the only way real change can be driven from the grassroots upward. Citizens must begin to ask real questions at local and state levels. Enough of making only the President a punching bag while others enjoy immunity from criticism.

“We use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to remain calm and security-conscious. Let us not allow propaganda to destabilize our unity or create unnecessary tension. Any suspicious activity or threatening situation should be reported to the nearest security agency. The fight against insecurity is not one that the government can win alone. It requires the full cooperation and vigilance of the people.

“Lastly, we emphasize that NANS is an independent body with its own leadership, structure, and electoral process. It is not controlled or influenced by Seyi Tinubu or anyone outside its framework. FOST will continue to stand against falsehood, protect the truth, and support young Nigerians who are making positive contributions to society. Mr. Seyi Tinubu should be exonerated from this senseless propaganda. Nigerians must reject impostors who are using the name of NANS to scam, manipulate, and mislead the public,” the statement read.