Oyo 2027: BSA’s Name Must Not Be Dragged Into Unfounded Narratives – Pal Solution Tells Critics • NANS Dissuades Unhealthy Political Contest (REJOINDER)

Officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Oyo State and Southwestern Nigeria have called for evidence to support claims linking protesters to Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.

In a rejoinder to a statement attributed to some NANS leaders in the state, Deputy Coordinator of NANS South-West Zone D Ridwan A.O.A., also known as Pal. Solution, and NANS Oyo State Secretary General Ibrahim Oladipupo Ajuwon questioned who organised the protest and whether those involved were students.

Having carefully read the statement credited to some NANS leaders in Oyo State, I believe there are fundamental questions that deserve clear answers.

First, who exactly were the protesters, and what evidence establishes that they were acting on behalf of Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli? The statement attributes the protest to BSA’s supporters, but it does not identify the organisers or establish the alleged connection. Such claims deserve proper verification before being presented as established facts.

More importantly, if those involved were not students, what gives them the authority to speak in the name of NANS? The identity and institutional affiliation of those involved should be established, not assumed. NANS is an association of Nigerian students, and its name must be used responsibly. If individuals who are not students are involved, the writers can use other forms in communicating their ideas, not bringing the name ‘NANS’ into it.

As the Deputy Coordinator of NANS South-West Zone D and the Secretary General of NANS Oyo State, we have been managing the Students Say BSA initiative while maintaining a clear distinction between our official responsibilities and my political engagement. Our involvement in a political initiative does not automatically make our official office a political instrument. We have remained conscious of the need to protect the integrity of our office, and the same standard of separation and accountability should apply to every office holder in the organisation.

It is also necessary to ask questions about consistency. Where individuals associated with the Omituntun Students Army have appeared alongside APM candidates, their political activities and the positions they subsequently take on political matters deserve the same scrutiny being applied to others. Political affiliation is not, in itself, proof of wrongdoing, but consistency and transparency are essential when individuals invoke student representation in political debates.

The article repeatedly calls for accountability, credible facts and responsible political engagement. Those are principles worth upholding. However, they must be applied fairly and consistently, rather than used to frame a political controversy before the relevant facts have been established.

We must also caution against any attempt to dent the name and reputation of Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli through politically charged narratives that are not adequately supported by facts. We understand that politics may be at play, and everyone is entitled to their political interests and affiliations. However, political engagement should be guided by facts, not friction, and should never become an avenue for creating unnecessary controversy around individuals.

Everyone is free to play their politics, advance their interests and express their positions, but BSA’s name should not be dragged into political narratives without clear, verifiable evidence. If the objective is truly to promote peace and accountability, then fairness must apply to everyone. Nobody should use the language of peace as a justification for making unsubstantiated allegations against another person.

Nobody is above scrutiny, whether a governor, senator, aspirant, student leader or political organisation. But scrutiny must be based on evidence, and institutional authority must not be confused with personal or partisan opinion.

The peace of Oyo State matters to all of us. Equally important is the integrity of the institutions that claim to speak for its people. NANS should remain focused on the welfare and interests of Nigerian students, while we leaders should ensure that public statements made in its name are factual, balanced and properly grounded.

The questions remain straightforward: Who organised the alleged protest? What evidence connects it to BSA? Were the organisers students? Why bringing in NANS’s name into the equation?

These questions deserve answers before conclusions are drawn.

Signed:

Ridwan A.O.A. | Pal. Solution,
Deputy Coordinator, NANS South-West (Zone D)

Ibrahim Oladipupo Ajuwon,
Secretary General, NANS JCC, Oyo State Axis.