Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has voiced concern over serious allegations made by the factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Abubakar Isah, against Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to reports, Atiku alleged that Seyi Tinubu abducted and physically assaulted him over his refusal to accept a bribe.
He also claimed that Tinubu’s son attempted to disrupt the NANS leadership inauguration in Abuja by allegedly deploying thugs to scatter the event.
In a statement released Saturday, Obi described the allegations as “troubling” and warned against the increasing suppression of youth voices in Nigeria’s democratic space.
“These allegations, if proven true, raise critical questions about the independence of student leadership and the subtle erosion of young voices in our democracy,” Obi said.
He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of Nigerian youths to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation or coercion.
“Nigeria’s youth should not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will,” he said, adding that “the oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalize.”
The former Anambra State governor further called for a nation where justice is served transparently and institutions uphold their duties with integrity.
“We must return to a Nigeria where justice is done and is seen to be done without theatrics or abuse. A country where youth can speak freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions act responsibly. That is the Nigeria we must rebuild,” he concluded.