Ola Akinwunmi
In a dramatic reversal, Atiku Isah, a factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), publicly apologized to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, retracting explosive allegations of a N100 million bribe offer, abduction, and assault. Isah attributed his earlier claims to “deceitful information” fed to him by his rival, NANS President Olusola Ladoja, whom he accused of orchestrating a smear campaign to undermine his leadership.
The controversy began in April when Isah accused Seyi Tinubu and Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande of offering him a N100 million bribe to rally student support for President Tinubu. He claimed he rejected the offer, citing the administration’s unfulfilled promises, and later alleged he was abducted, stripped, and beaten on April 15, 2025—a date notably set two years in the future—before being forced to recant his NANS presidency at the NTA under duress.
Seyi Tinubu denied all allegations, calling them “baseless and malicious.” In a Facebook statement titled “Setting the Records Straight/Public Apology to Seyi Tinubu,” Isah admitted his claims were fueled by Ladoja’s “lies and half-truths.” He revealed Ladoja privately warned him that Seyi Tinubu could “order his killing” and manipulate law enforcement to bury the case. Isah also walked back his accusation that Seyi led thugs to disrupt his inauguration, stating, “I later found out Mr. Seyi was nowhere near the venue.”
“The offer of N100 million to support President Tinubu was clearly untrue… Ladoja Olusola fed me lies to achieve his selfish agenda of seizing control of NANS.” – “Ladoja painted Seyi Tinubu as a violent figure intent on ending my life. I now recognize these narratives were fabricated to exploit my position.”
The saga highlights deepening factional rifts within NANS, a influential student body often entangled in Nigeria’s political landscape. Isah’s retraction raises questions about internal power struggles and the alleged weaponization of false claims to discredit opponents. Seyi Tinubu’s office has yet to respond to the apology but previously condemned the allegations as “dangerous falsehoods.”
