Comrade Jubril Batuta, a presidential candidate of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) from the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), has raised concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, is secretly holding a stakeholder meeting to manipulate the leadership transition process of NANS.
Batuta alleged that Seyi Tinubu spent over a billion Naira during the last transition process and handpicked the current national executives, ensuring Yoruba dominance in the leadership. He warned that Seyi’s actions may perpetuate a pattern of ‘Yorubanisation’ in NANS, contradicting the principle of geopolitical zoning enshrined in the constitution.
The NANS presidential candidate urged President Tinubu to caution his son and prevent him from interfering in the affairs of NANS. Batuta emphasized that NANS is a national body representing students across all ethnic groups and regions, and it must remain a symbol of unity and inclusiveness.
He called on all Nigerian students, civil society organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to resist this alleged assault on NANS’ independence. Batuta stressed that the future of millions of students must not be sacrificed due to nepotism and ethnic favouritism.
