The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has cautioned former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, urging him to desist from involving Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, in the association’s internal affairs.
In a statement, NANS National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, accused Sowore of attempting to hijack the student movement through what he described as false narratives aimed at regaining lost relevance.
“But his latest attempt to tie Seyi Tinubu to a violent disruption at a botched NANS inauguration is as desperate as it is dishonest,” Ajasa said.
He criticized a report published by Sowore’s news platform, Sahara Reporters, which alleged that Seyi Tinubu led thugs to the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja to attack attendees at a disputed NANS event and harm supporters of Atiku Abubakar Isah, who claims to be the president of the association.
“Isah, whose claim to leadership has been flatly rejected by the broader NANS structure, is now crying wolf, going so far as to accuse Seyi Tinubu of plotting an attempt on his life,” the statement reads.
Ajasa described the allegations as laughable, stating that Seyi Tinubu was not present at the venue and had no involvement in the incident.
“Even hotel management has confirmed that the hall was booked under false pretences by the same Atiku Isah, who concealed the real purpose of the event,” he added.
Ajasa further remarked that deception has been a recurring feature in the ongoing dispute within the student body.
“It is far more likely that Isah’s rivals, seeing through the backdoor attempt to force his presidency through spectacle, stormed the venue to prevent the fiction from becoming fact. That is the internal politics of NANS. It has nothing to do with Seyi Tinubu, who has never meddled in its affairs and has no reason to start now.”
He accused Sowore of capitalizing on the situation for personal gain, saying, “Sowore sees an opportunity, not to tell the truth, but to sling mud. After all, he has never recovered from the fact that today’s student leaders have long rejected his manipulative grip. They wised up years ago. They saw that behind the ‘activist’ mask was a man whose only real ideology is self-promotion and protest for pay.”
Ajasa alleged that Sowore has continued to resort to smear campaigns, media blackmail, and attention-seeking headlines since losing his influence.
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He suggested that Sowore’s attacks on the president’s son are rooted in envy.
“Seyi has achieved national goodwill without theatrics,” Ajasa stated. “He has earned respect through quiet but impactful work, strategic thinking, and a long-standing commitment to youth empowerment and development.”
According to Ajasa, NANS leaders, regardless of internal divisions, continue to seek out Seyi Tinubu because of the value he brings to youth advocacy.
“That is influence. And it is something Sowore cannot manufacture through sensational headlines,” he stressed.
He also urged media houses not to allow themselves to be used as tools for blackmail.
“These tactics belong to the past, alongside the outdated ambitions of men who refuse to accept that their time has passed. Let us be clear. This is not about students, activism, or even truth. It is about a man who cannot let go of a stage that no longer belongs to him,” the statement concluded.
