A factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Isah, has withdrawn serious allegations he earlier made against Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, admitting that the claims were false and politically motivated.
Mr Isah had previously accused Mr Tinubu and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, of offering him a ₦100 million bribe in Lagos to promote President Tinubu’s image — an allegation both men strongly denied.
In a statement published on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Mr Isah issued what he described as a “public apology” to Mr Tinubu, stating that the accusations, including claims of abduction, assault, and forced resignation, were made under the influence of misinformation.
He said he was misled by Olusola Ladoja, another NANS leader who he alleged was trying to unseat him.
“It has become clear that the offer of N100,000,000… was clearly untrue, as Ladoja Olusola… fed me lies and half-truths,” Mr Isah wrote. “He swore to me that Seyi was doing everything to ensure I am not alive to serve my tenure as NANS president.”
Mr Isah had earlier alleged that he was abducted and assaulted on 15 April, and that a statement purporting to resign from his post was extracted from him under duress at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He also claimed that thugs led by Mr Tinubu disrupted his inauguration — a statement he now says was also false.
“In fact, I later found out that Mr Seyi was nowhere near the venue,” he said.
The latest development adds a new twist to the ongoing leadership crisis within NANS, which has seen rival factions jostling for control of the student union.
Neither Mr Tinubu nor the Minister of Youth Development has commented further on Mr Isah’s apology.
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