The election was held late Friday night at the old parade ground, Abuja.
The newly elected leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has accused Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of interfering in the process and activities of the body.
On Friday it was reported how Pedro Obi, a Phd student of Guidance and Counseling studies from the Delta State University emerged as President of the students’ body.
He got 212 votes to defeat his closest rival, Lucky Emonefe who scored 83 votes.
Emonefe, aged 48 is the preferred choice of the President’s son, Seyi.
The election was held late Friday night at the old parade ground, Abuja.
In a statement signed by Obi on Saturday night, the association blamed Seyi for the violence witnessed during the association convention, alleging the son of the President abused his privilege by deploying operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to interfere with the activities of the student body in order to decide who became the NANS President.
“As you may recall, the NANS National Convention was slated for 27th – 30th November 2023 in Abuja and student leaders across Tertiary Institutions mobilize themselves to Abuja for elections of a new leadership,” the statement read.
“Unfortunately, and as you may have seen, certain individuals masquerading as government agents picked unnecessary interest in our organization to the extent of making strong attempts at forcefully imposing unpopular leaders against popular choices of the students.
“Many biases such as political party affiliation, closeness to corridor of power and subtleness of candidates were considered. However, the fierce resolve of student leaders who gathered frustrated these inimical attempts at hijacking the leadership of the organisation.
“The senators resisted imposition of Mr. Seyi Tinubu’s candidate who is not a known student of any Tertiary Institution in Nigeria. The Department of State Security (DSS) was excessively deployed for partisan roles working for Mr Seyi Tinubu to determine who should enter the venue and who should not, unleashing mayhem on comrades and genuine students leaders who did not align with their ungodly interest, against all odds, Nigerian Students resisted all the intimidations, and elected the new Leadership of our organization now led by me Comrade Pedro Obi, a PhD student of the Delta State University, Abraka.
“The convention is successfully over and as espoused in my campaign manifesto, it is a new dawn for the students. The 3 C’s, Capacity, Content and Competence which I promised to bring to bear will be fully deplored in serving and protecting the interest of Nigerian Students.
“This administration shall strive to work with utmost intellectual sagacity in resolving challenges that may confront us. But we assure that we shall not be tools in individual’s hands at the detriment of students interest. Ours shall solely be tailored to restoring order, dignity and elimination of all Anti educational policies against the students, as we collaborate with Federal Government and Government at all level to uplift the Nigeria educational sector.
“Let us at this junction call on the general public to give the necessary solidarity and support to the newly elected NANS President and his executives as we begin to consciously serve as the voice of the voiceless and genuinely defend the interest of Nigerian Students.”
On Friday reported how the Old Parade Ground, venue of the national convention of the association was characterised by heavy shootings.
The shootings, which started on Thursday, continued on Friday at the venue of the convention, which is a few distance away from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
It was learnt that some students sustained wounds from the gunshots and machetes after thugs loyal to a candidate said to be the preferred choice of President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, began attacking opposition delegates.
The newspaper also reported how Seyi allegedly released millions of naira for security operatives and mobilisation of cultists to compromise the national convention and enthrone his preferred candidate.
According to some students leaders, the plot was to ensure that Nigerian students would not rise and lead a revolution against the unpopular government of his father.
According to a source, the payment of the millions in mobilisation followed the pledge by members of the Convention Planning Committee of NANS to deliver his preferred candidates at the convention.
The source had said: “We have it on good authority that Seyi Tinubu has released millions to naira to security operatives in order to compromise the National Convention of NANS and ensure that their preferred candidates emerge.”
“This is coming after the members of the Convention Planning Committee of the association pledged to deliver the preferred candidates of Seyi Tinubu in a video call with Seyi Tinubu two days ago,” another source had disclosed.
It had earlier reported how students and stakeholders kicked against the candidature of one Lucky Emonefe, a 48-year-old citizen, as president of the association.
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