The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed recent calls by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi demanding the sack of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, describing the attacks as politically motivated, misplaced and diversionary.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, HURIWA described the threats of nationwide protests by NANS over demands for Matawalle’s removal as reckless, unserious and far removed from the core mandate of a student body. The group accused NANS of acting as political errand runners rather than advocates for students’ welfare and the improvement of Nigeria’s failing education sector.
HURIWA advised NANS and its leadership to “return to classrooms and lecture halls” and refocus on issues that directly affect students, including poor funding of education, decaying infrastructure in universities, incessant strikes, and the alarming decline in academic standards. According to the group, Nigerian universities are increasingly being reduced to the level of glorified primary schools due to chronic underfunding and neglect.
“The duty of NANS is not to issue ultimatums to the President or to campaign for the sack of ministers. Their responsibility is to defend the interests of Nigerian students whose future is being mortgaged by poor budgeting for education, overcrowded classrooms, ill-equipped laboratories and demoralised lecturers,” HURIWA said.
The rights group noted that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has consistently raised concerns about inadequate funding and the collapse of academic standards, stressing that these are the areas where NANS should be deploying its energy and influence. It added that protests should be channelled towards demanding better learning conditions, improved welfare for students and lecturers, and meaningful reforms in the education sector.
“NANS should stop grandstanding and playing to the gallery of politicians. They should work with lecturers, engage policymakers constructively and fight for a system that guarantees quality education and a secure future for Nigerian students. Threatening protests over the fate of a minister is not only misplaced, it is irresponsible,” HURIWA stated.
On the criticisms coming from Alhaji Sani Shinkafi Shinkafi, HURIWA described his interventions as overtly political and driven by partisan interests rather than genuine concern for national security. The group pointed out that Zamfara State remains a hotbed of intense political rivalry between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and that Shinkafi’s comments must be understood within that context.
HURIWA noted that Shinkafi, now aligned with the PDP in Zamfara State after previously belonging to APGA, is widely perceived as working in the political interest of the incumbent administration in the state. According to the group, his repeated attacks on Matawalle are linked to growing fears within rival political camps that the former Zamfara governor and current Minister could emerge as a strong contender under the APC platform in the 2027 gubernatorial election.
“When Shinkafi speaks on Matawalle, Nigerians must listen with discernment. This is not a neutral intervention. It is a politically coloured attack rooted in Zamfara’s fierce power contest. Shinkafi’s political journey, from APGA to his current alignment, shows clearly where his interests lie,” HURIWA said.
The association warned against the politicisation of security matters and cautioned that reckless accusations and public grandstanding could undermine national stability. It urged all actors to allow due process, evidence-based assessments and institutional mechanisms to address security challenges rather than turning them into tools for political warfare.
HURIWA reaffirmed its position that criticism of public officials must be anchored on facts, national interest and respect for democratic institutions, not partisan fear or opportunism. It called on Nigerians to remain vigilant against attempts to manipulate public opinion through politically driven narratives, insisting that both students’ bodies and political actors must act responsibly in the interest of the nation.