By Charles Pemu 
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following grave allegations of abduction and assault leveled against the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
The scandal, which has captivated national attention, centers around claims made by Atiku Isah, a factional leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who alleged in a bombshell press conference that he was brutalised, stripped, and unlawfully detained by armed men acting on behalf of Seyi Tinubu and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
According to Isah, the ordeal followed his refusal of a N100 million bribe—an offer allegedly made to secure student union support for the Tinubu administration. The student leader claims the attempted payoff occurred during a meeting in Lagos on April 15, after which he was assaulted for resisting.
“A Fabricated Lie” — Seyi Denies Involvement
Reacting swiftly, Seyi Tinubu took to his Instagram stories to vehemently deny the allegations, branding them a malicious fabrication intended to tarnish his image.
“Wow… how can someone lie with so much confidence?” he wrote. “I have never met Comrade Isah nor held any meeting with him—anywhere in the world.”
Allegations or Political Chess?
The scandal has taken on a wider dimension, with Presidential aide Sunday Asefon—a former NANS President—accusing Isah of being a pawn in a high-level political conspiracy. According to Asefon, the allegations are part of a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated by opposition heavyweights, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a dramatic twist, Asefon claimed Isah was residing at El-Rufai’s Abuja home and circulated photos purportedly showing the student leader in the company of opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Omoyele Sowore, and Sule Lamido.
“They’ve realised that Seyi is a political asset to his father,” Asefon asserted, “and now they want to destabilise him with these cooked-up stories.”
“Lies, Desperation, and Intimidation” — Isah Responds
Isah has dismissed the accusations as desperate attempts to intimidate him and discredit his position. He categorically denied ever staying at El-Rufai’s residence, asserting that he had not seen the former governor in over nine years.
“Yes, I visited Atiku, and I met Sowore at a public event—but does that make me a puppet?” he asked. “This is about accountability, not allegiance.”
Despite some criticisms of government policies, Isah emphasized that he still supports President Tinubu’s leadership, but he would not sacrifice truth and transparency.
Atiku Slams Tinubu: “Nigeria is Not a Family Heirloom”
Weighing in on the controversy, Atiku Abubakar issued a damning statement through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, warning against what he described as the Tinubu family’s dangerous overreach into civil society.
“It is intolerable that the First Family would seek to subjugate NANS or any civil group through bribes, threats, or brute force,” the former Vice President said.
“The presidency is a public trust, not a private inheritance.”
Atiku called for an independent probe into the alleged attack on Isah, urging Nigerians to speak out against creeping authoritarianism.
Afenifere Fires Back: “A Proxy War in Disguise”
However, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere dismissed the allegations as “salacious, fallacious, and completely unfounded.” In a statement signed by National Organising Secretary Kole Omololu, the group described the episode as a proxy war by embittered political adversaries unwilling to face President Tinubu directly.
“This is a calculated smear campaign by opposition elements who lack the courage to fight openly,” the statement read. “Student groups must not allow themselves to be manipulated as tools of political sabotage.”
The Nation Watches
As accusations and counter-accusations fly, Nigerians are left grappling with critical questions: Was this a case of abuse of power, or the latest front in a relentless political turf war? With both sides entrenched, calls for independent investigation are growing louder.
What remains clear is this: the line between politics and power play has never been more dangerously blurred.