Ola Akinwunmi
In a rebuttal issued in Lagos on Friday, the City Boy Movement has vehemently denied allegations that its Grand Patron, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, mobilised thugs to disrupt the inauguration of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) executives.
The controversy erupted following claims by Atiku Isah, the factional president of NANS, who on Wednesday accused Tinubu of interfering in NANS’ affairs by disrupting the presidential inauguration in Abuja. Isah alleged that the disruption involved not only a physical lockdown of the event venue but also attempts to hijack student leadership.
However, these claims have been met with strong denials from the City Boy Movement, a prominent youth-driven sociopolitical and good governance advocacy group.Mr. Francis Shoga, Director-General of the City Boy Movement, categorically described the allegations as “malicious, unfounded, and a baseless attempt to tarnish” Seyi Tinubu’s reputation.
In a detailed statement, Shoga asserted that the charges are nothing more than an act of character assassination. He criticized the narrative of a staged incident—where he was purportedly stripped and filmed under duress—as an orchestrated piece of theatrics aimed at leveraging undue public sympathy.
“Such spurious accusations are not only devoid of any credible evidence but are also an unfortunate misuse of public sentiment,” Shoga explained. He added that the movement remains committed to youth empowerment and that Tinubu’s track record has consistently focused on constructive dialogue and developmental initiatives, not on meddling in the internal affairs of student organizations.
The statement went on to warn that any further defamatory attempts to associate Seyi Tinubu with activities contrary to his long-standing commitment to youth development would provoke legal action. “We cannot and will not stand by while opportunists exploit prominent names for their own publicity,” said Shoga. He urged Nigerian youth to steer clear of such disorganised antics and focus on meaningful progress and collaborative advancements for the nation.
Despite the swirling controversy, the City Boy Movement reaffirmed its allegiance to the principles of integrity and accountability, emphasizing that its activities are centered solely on empowering the youth and fostering transparent governance.
The Group’s Public Relations Officer, Orowole Owoyemi, highlighted that these recent allegations represent yet another misguided attempt to destabilise established leadership dynamics and undermine autonomous student representation.
