The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned that politically motivated actions, such as smear campaigns, hinder effective governance and obstruct collaborative security efforts.
The group lamented the rate of unsubstantiated allegations flying around against some government officials in recent days.
The rights group was particularly reacting to recent accusations against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, saying it was wrong for people to throw allegations without valid evidence to back them up.
DAILY POST reported that a group of women and youths, purportedly from Zamfara, had stormed the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, claiming that Matawalle’s tenure fueled insecurity in the state.
HURIWA argued that such claims without valid proof may be regarded as a political maneuver aimed at discrediting those they are directed at and undermining the administration’s stability.
The group further claimed that some individuals are going as far as using groups such as “APC AKIDA” to attack individuals in government.
In response to the protest, HURIWA referenced statements from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, who had previously addressed the allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
“Most of these are just mere allegations,” Onanuga stated, emphasizing that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) conducted investigations and found no evidence to support claims of Matawalle’s alleged connections with bandits.
Onanuga confirmed that the NSA’s findings led President Tinubu to retain Matawalle, noting that the president is fully aware of the stories but concluded they are fabricated.
DAILY POST recalls that the Kano High Court recently issued a restraining order to prevent Governor Dauda Lawal, his associates, and certain media outlets from continuing a smear campaign against Matawalle.
In an official press release dated September 30, 2024, Henshaw Ogubike, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Defense, underscored that “the court’s decision was necessary to halt defamatory actions aimed at discrediting Matawalle.”
However, HURIWA emphasised that “politically motivated actions hinder effective governance and obstruct collaborative security efforts.”
According to the organization, “allegations unsupported by evidence distract both state and federal agencies from their primary duty to protect citizens from threats.”
HURIWA called on the DSS to exercise caution in handling politically sensitive issues, emphasizing that the agency must avoid becoming entangled in investigations without credible evidence.
HURIWA asserted that the DSS should prioritize unity and collaboration with other agencies to develop practical solutions to Zamfara’s security challenges, rather than engaging in divisive actions based on unsubstantiated allegations.
Matawalle: Allegations not supported by evidence serious threats to citizens – HURIWA
