Former Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Henry Okunomo, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the rapid decline of the students’ body due to political interference. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme aired by Channels TV and posted on their official X handle @Channelstv, Okunomo attributed the alleged decay within NANS to the involvement of Seyi Tinubu.
According to Okunomo, NANS is “almost losing the purpose of its creation,” as it continues to drift away from student-centered advocacy towards political compromise. He claimed that Seyi Tinubu’s growing influence over the past year has undermined the association’s credibility, making it “porous” and increasingly detached from the realities of Nigerian students.
He questioned the legitimacy of Seyi Tinubu’s involvement in the affairs of NANS, noting that he neither studied in Nigeria nor fulfilled the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) requirement. “He has no right to be a stakeholder of NANS,” Okunomo said, adding that Seyi’s motivations remain unclear. “What does he want to gain? I don’t know,” he remarked.
Okunomo stated that the undue influence of politically exposed persons has shifted the focus of NANS away from its foundational objectives. He noted that many now view the association as a vehicle for political ambition and self-promotion rather than student representation. “Everyone is now interested in who to support politically and for personal gain,” he added.
When asked whether NANS still upholds the ideals for which it was founded, Okunomo responded that only a few members continue to pursue the genuine interests of students. He warned that unless political interference is addressed, the organization may soon become irrelevant. “If care is not taken, the association will completely decay,” he said.
Calling for decisive action, Okunomo urged that Seyi Tinubu be asked to withdraw from all NANS-related matters. “The nation should ask him to pull away from NANS because the organization is losing it already,” he concluded.
