The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former Zamfara State governorship candidate, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, over their calls for the removal of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, describing the actions as politically motivated and misplaced.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, HURIWA dismissed NANS’ threat of nationwide protests demanding Matawalle’s sack as reckless and inconsistent with the core mandate of a student body. The group accused the students’ association of abandoning its responsibility to champion education-related issues in favour of what it described as political grandstanding.
HURIWA urged NANS to “return to classrooms and lecture halls” and refocus its energy on pressing challenges confronting Nigerian students, including poor funding of education, decaying infrastructure, incessant strikes and the steady decline in academic standards across universities.
According to the rights group, Nigerian tertiary institutions are suffering from chronic underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, poorly equipped laboratories and demoralised lecturers, a situation it said should be the primary concern of NANS.
“The duty of NANS is not to issue ultimatums to the President or campaign for the sack of ministers, but to defend the interests of Nigerian students whose future is being jeopardised by the neglect of the education sector,” HURIWA stated.
The association also referenced repeated warnings by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the collapse of academic standards, stressing that student activism should be channelled towards demanding better learning conditions, improved welfare for students and lecturers, and meaningful reforms in the education sector.
On the criticisms from Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, HURIWA described his comments as overtly political and driven by partisan interests rather than genuine concern for national security. The group noted that Zamfara State remains a theatre of intense political rivalry and argued that Shinkafi’s attacks on Matawalle should be viewed within that context.
HURIWA alleged that Shinkafi, now aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after previously belonging to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is perceived to be acting in the political interest of the incumbent administration in Zamfara State. It further claimed that the criticisms were linked to fears that Matawalle could emerge as a strong contender under the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“When Shinkafi speaks on Matawalle, Nigerians must listen with discernment. This is not a neutral intervention but a politically coloured attack rooted in Zamfara’s fierce power contest,” the group said.
The rights organisation warned against the politicisation of security matters, cautioning that unsubstantiated accusations and public grandstanding could undermine national stability. It called for security issues to be addressed through due process, evidence-based assessments and established institutional mechanisms.
HURIWA reaffirmed that criticism of public officials should be anchored on facts, national interest and respect for democratic institutions, urging both student bodies and political actors to act responsibly and resist attempts to manipulate public opinion through partisan narratives.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
