FORMER NANS LEADER CHALLENGES SEYI TINUBU’S INFLUENCE OVER STUDENT ORGANIZATION
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Henry Okunomo, a former Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, has expressed alarm about the increasing politicization of the student body and warned that the organization is “almost losing it” as a result of outside meddling and a shift from its core values.
He also expressed concern over the president’s son allegedly meddling in NANS’s operations.
In a Wednesday interview with Channels Television, Okunomo criticized the growing power of political players in NANS, claiming that many now run for office to further their political agendas rather than to help students.
“In fact, let me say, the organisation is almost losing it. Because these people have programmed the organisation in the sense that if you do not have government backing, I’m afraid you might not be able to become anything in the organisation,” he said.
He lamented the shift from student advocacy to political patronage, noting that the core mission of NANS; to protect and promote the interests of Nigerian students, is being eroded.
“Everybody is now tagging themselves to one political party or the other. The organisation is already losing the purpose of its creation,” he added.
Okunomo also raised alarm over the alleged involvement of Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son in the affairs of NANS, questioning his role and influence despite not being a student or former member of the organisation.
“With the involvement of the president’s son for the past one year, he has done everything to make sure that the organisation is porous. What he stands to gain, I don’t know. What he wants to achieve, I don’t know. But the question I want the general public to ask him is, what is his interest in NANS?”
He questioned the legitimacy of non-students influencing student leadership, stating that only those who are currently studying in Nigerian institutions or have previously served in NANS, can be considered stakeholders.
“He wasn’t a stakeholder. He didn’t school in Nigeria. Because the only thing that can qualify you to be a stakeholder in the organisation is if you have served in the organisation,” Okunomo said.
He further criticised the abuse of power and alleged intimidation of individuals under the guise of political influence.
“You now hide under the power that you have to be terrorising some set of people in the country that everybody’s security is meant to be secured by the president of the country,” he stated.
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