A dramatic storm is brewing within the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as Olusola Oladoja, the newly inaugurated factional president, openly credited the Bola Tinubu-led federal government for playing a decisive role — including financial support — in his emergence as the student body’s leader.
Oladoja was sworn in on Wednesday in Abuja at a ceremony that boasted the presence of top government officials, including Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Interior Bosun Tijani, and Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Sunday Dare, among others. In a moment that raised eyebrows across the student community, Oladoja not only pledged unwavering loyalty to President Tinubu but also announced the construction of a new “student house” project to be named after the president.
“Today, we officially launch the student house project — a structure to be named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a president whose enthusiasm for education remains unmatched,” Oladoja declared during his speech. He further detailed that the new NANS Secretariat will feature fifteen offices, six 1000-seater halls, a conference room, and twenty-five hotel rooms.
What set the hall abuzz, however, was Oladoja’s candid admission of the Tinubu government’s influence in the highly contested student elections. “Alhaji Badaru, the Honourable Minister of Defence and our grand patron, played a pivotal role in our elections — particularly in reaching consensus with some of my contenders, aside from investing funds,” he revealed, a statement that has since sparked nationwide debate over the politicisation of student leadership.
The Defence Minister reinforced the administration’s involvement, stating that President Tinubu holds the advancement of Nigerian students in high regard, hence the significant government presence at the inauguration.
But while one faction celebrated, another cried foul. The recognized President of NANS from the national convention held on February 27, 2025, Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, accused Seyi Tinubu — the president’s son — of orchestrating a violent attempt to disrupt his inauguration and allegedly plotting his assassination.
Speaking with SaharaReporters in a tense phone call, Isah alleged that Seyi Tinubu, accompanied by armed men, stormed The Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, the venue of his planned inauguration.
“Seyi has just ordered for me to be assassinated after his attempt to buy me failed,” Isah claimed. “He has now instructed the hotel management to shut down everything — they’ve locked guests in and halted all movement.”
One student leader, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, described the situation as “deeply troubling and a blatant attack on student democracy.” He added, “This is no longer about Atiku Isah — it’s about safeguarding the independence and integrity of our student union from elite interference.”
The NANS convention itself was previously marred by deep factional cracks, with opposing groups accusing each other of colluding with powerful political actors. The turmoil escalated further when, on April 22, NANS wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting tight security for the scheduled April 29 inauguration.
With allegations of state-sponsored influence, assassination threats, and violent suppression, the Nigerian student movement now finds itself at a dangerous crossroads — one where democracy, youth leadership, and political loyalty collide in an explosive national drama.
PIONEER NEWS 