Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restrain members of his family following serious allegations involving his son, Seyi Tinubu, and the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku criticised what he described as attempts to treat Nigeria like a “private estate” and warned against the use of coercion, financial inducement, or violence to control civil society organisations.
The statement, titled ‘Tinubu Must Call His Family to Order: Nigeria Is Not a Private Estate’, came in response to recent claims made by a factional NANS president, Comrade Atiku Isah.
Isah, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, alleged that Seyi Tinubu offered him a N100 million bribe in Lagos to secure his public support for President Tinubu. He further claimed that after refusing the offer, he was assaulted, stripped, and abducted by hired thugs on April 15.
In a swift rebuttal on Friday, Seyi Tinubu denied the allegations, stating that he had never met Isah and accused the student leader of fabricating the story in an attempt to damage his reputation.
Reacting to the unfolding controversy, Atiku Abubakar condemned what he called “unacceptable” efforts by the president’s family to intimidate and manipulate NANS or any other civic organisation.
“The grave allegations made by Comrade Atiku Isah — including physical assault, abduction, and financial inducement by Seyi Tinubu — are deeply alarming and undermine the very fabric of Nigeria’s democracy and civil liberties,” Atiku said.
He warned that any harm to the student leader would not go unnoticed, adding that the incident could have turned deadly and that it exposes the dangerous overreach of the first family.
“Atrocities by criminal elements are tragic enough, but when such allegations are tied to the President’s son, it becomes even more horrifying. What’s worse is the suggestion that state security agencies might be complicit or powerless in the face of such influence,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president called on Nigerians to speak out against what he termed the first family’s aggressive bid to consolidate power through intimidation and manipulation.
He also addressed claims of a political alliance with Isah, describing them as “baseless, malicious, and desperate.”
“My engagement with Comrade Isah was focused solely on education reform and student welfare — matters that have always been a priority for me,” he clarified, citing his work with institutions like the American University of Nigeria (AUN) and AUN Academy.
Atiku urged for an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy must be protected from undue influence and abuse of power.
“This presidency is a public trust, not a private inheritance. Well-meaning Nigerians must demand accountability and stand firm against any attempts to silence dissent or subjugate civil society,” Atiku concluded.
