Message to charlatans!
It appears that Sowore may have misunderstood or perhaps deliberately overlooked what the constitution says regarding the candidacy for NANS leadership, which clearly states that only registered students of recognized institutions are eligible to contest. On the other hand, he may have a point. Many of the so-called comrades don’t actually attend classes. It’s an open secret that some individuals only seek university admission to meet the bare requirements for candidacy, but that’s a discussion for another day.
What concerns me more right now is the group of young, overzealous subordinates many of whom have never truly experienced the complexities of Nigerian life or contributed meaningfully to its progress issuing threats to physically assault Sowore whenever they find him. That, frankly, is absurd. Even more surprising is that some so-called “stakeholders,” who should be guiding these non-students/youths with wisdom and restraint, are instead joining in this baseless aggression. It’s ironic and sad, considering that Sowore has spent decades advocating for the oppressed. This same man identified with us at the MMIA protest,Ikeja in 2022, speaking to the media while some so-called comrades were busy profiting from all the airlines. Now, those same individuals are part of a coordinated effort to attack a principled, consistent activist who has always shown up when any of our students or youth activists have been detained or harassed.
And let’s not pretend NANS is some united front. Factionalism has long existed—a product of elections that lack transparency, peace, and justice. Power rarely emerges from unity; it often comes from chaos, backdoor deals, and rigged conventions.
Regarding Atiku, who is said to have never attended any convention yet declared himself president of the organization he was rightly “mended.” For context, “mending” is the colloquial term used for what is essentially a physical reprimand, a long-standing and unfortunate tradition within NANS. Whether or not this action was linked to Seyi Tinubu’s involvement, I can’t confirm. However, it’s no secret that many state governors have attended student conventions discreetly in the past without media attention. Seyi has openly associated himself with this morally questionable system and is now facing the consequences. Generational wealth is generational health, but it may not be so for Seyi.
The NANS President’s feeble attempt at damage control during his appearance on Channels TV only worsened matters by dragging Seyi’s name further into the mud with vague and poorly thought-out remarks.
As for those calling for violence against Sowore, I hope they never find him because such actions would only further expose the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of their cause.
Adebowale
FMR NANS Chairman
Ex student
Non-stakeholder
Part-time activist
