The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has fiercely condemned Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of the Bauchi State governor, for his remarks against Seyi Tinubu’s food distribution initiative in the state. Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had extended relief through the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement (RHYE) program, an act that Shamsudeen publicly criticized.
Reacting strongly, NANS Senate President Usman Nagwaza described Shamsudeen’s stance as “ridiculous and uncalled for,” urging the public to see through what he termed an attempt at blame-shifting. He argued that it was unreasonable to expect Seyi Tinubu, a private citizen without executive powers, to solve unemployment challenges in a state with an active government.
“This attempt to shift the onus from the Bauchi State Government to an individual outside the corridors of power reeks of either willful ignorance or calculated mischief,” Nagwaza stated.
Defending Seyi Tinubu’s philanthropic efforts, he added, “It is imperative to state unequivocally that Seyi Tinubu’s generosity and benevolence should be commended, not chastised. His altruism, evidenced in numerous philanthropic gestures across the nation, is a testament to his genuine concern for the downtrodden. Unlike those who occupy public office yet remain indifferent to the plight of the people, he has consistently taken deliberate steps to provide succor where it is needed. Therefore, that he chooses to extend a helping hand should not invite criticism but rather commendation.”
Nagwaza further urged Seyi Tinubu to remain undeterred by criticism, emphasizing that history favors those who persist in service despite opposition.
“Seyi Tinubu must, therefore, not allow the bitter wailings of naysayers to deter him from his path of service. History is kind to men who, despite unwarranted vilification, remain steadfast in their pursuit of the greater good. If those in government had half his sense of duty, we would not be here debating the moral imperative of empowerment,” he said.
Turning his criticism toward Shamsudeen, Nagwaza questioned his moral authority on youth empowerment, given his father’s administration’s record.
“It is both amusing and infuriating to witness a man who basks in the privileges of his father’s gubernatorial office turn around to pontificate on youth empowerment, all while his lineage has spectacularly failed in that very regard,” he remarked.
Nagwaza challenged Shamsudeen to reflect on his father’s governance before critiquing others.
“One must ask, with all sincerity, how many youths his father has empowered since assuming office? How many sustainable economic programs has his father’s administration initiated? What tangible infrastructural advancements in ICT, business incubation, or employment generation can be attributed to the Bala Mohammed-led government? If none, then the younger Bala’s sudden grandstanding on youth empowerment is nothing more than an embarrassing exercise in hypocrisy,” he concluded.
