Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP has issued a stern call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately rein in his family members, especially his son, Seyi Tinubu, over alarming allegations of abuse of power, intimidation, and coercion.
In a statement on X by his Media Office Paul Ibe on Friday the office condemned the alleged physical assault, abduction, and inducement leveled by Comrade Atiku Isah, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), against Seyi Tinubu.
“These grave accusations strike at the core of democratic norms and civil liberty,” the statement read. “That such allegations are being leveled against a member of the First Family is both disturbing and dangerous.”
The statement warned that if the incident had turned fatal, it would have added to the rising list of atrocities committed by criminal elements in the country. “What makes this particularly horrifying,” it continued, “is the alleged involvement of the President’s own son.”
The office raised concerns about the influence Seyi Tinubu allegedly holds over security institutions. “It is unacceptable that top security officials may be compromised or intimidated under the weight of his overreaching influence,” the statement said.
“Nigeria is a democratic republic, not a monarchy handed down to one family,” the office declared, adding that the First Family’s alleged attempt to suppress NANS or any civil society group “through threats, bribes, or brute force” is intolerable.
It urged all well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against what it described as “a rabid drive to consolidate political power through manipulation and fear.”
Addressing reports suggesting a political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Comrade Isah, the office dismissed such claims as “baseless, malicious, and desperate.”
“Atiku Abubakar’s meeting with Comrade Isah focused entirely on education reform and student welfare, including institutions he founded like the American University of Nigeria and AUN Academy,” the statement clarified.
The Media Office also emphasized the need for an independent investigation into the allegations, citing concerns that “the very agencies meant to protect citizens appear complicit in this ordeal.”
“We issue a clear warning: nothing must happen to this young man. Any harm to him will not go unnoticed or unchallenged,” it stated.
The statement concluded with a firm restatement of Atiku Abubakar’s democratic values. “He remains committed to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the power of education as a driver of national development. He will not be distracted by false narratives or cowardly intimidation.”