HURIWA decries targeted attacks on Matawalle
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the latest allegations levelled against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, describing the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as politically motivated, unsubstantiated, and part of a calculated campaign to weaken a key loyalist of President […]
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the latest allegations levelled against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, describing the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as politically motivated, unsubstantiated, and part of a calculated campaign to weaken a key loyalist of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the protest at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, HURIWA expressed concern over what it described as a sustained, well-coordinated smear campaign orchestrated by desperate political actors, many of whom are insiders within the corridors of power in Zamfara state and are allegedly displeased with Matawalle’s rising profile and unwavering loyalty to the President.
In a press statement issued on Saturday in Abuja and made available to journalists, the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that “this renewed offensive against Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle is nothing but a desperate and vindictive attempt by internal saboteurs—many of them from the Northern political establishment—to discredit a performing minister whose only offence is his uncommon loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief and his role in stabilizing the security architecture of the nation.”
HURIWA stressed that it was deeply concerned that some so-called civil society organisations and groups masquerading as pro-reform platforms are now being hijacked and weaponised by disgruntled politicians, who are unsettled by Matawalle’s growing relevance in President Tinubu’s government.
“It is no longer a secret that certain vested interests within the federal structure, especially those from the North-West, feel threatened by the visible and strategic positioning of Dr Matawalle in the cabinet. These people have repeatedly launched media trials and recycled allegations in an effort to reduce his influence,” HURIWA noted.
While HURIWA acknowledged the need for accountability and transparency in governance, it emphasised that such principles must not be manipulated to serve parochial or ethnic interests.
The group recalled that this was not the first time individuals or groups had mobilised under questionable identities to orchestrate public outcries aimed at discrediting Matawalle.
According to HURIWA, since his appointment, the former Zamfara State governor has shown extraordinary commitment to national security reforms, military welfare, and civil-military cooperation, often embarking on field visits to frontlines and engaging with military commanders.
“His performance as Minister of State for Defence has been nothing short of commendable. He has brought a proactive and pragmatic style to military-civil engagement and has become a unifying figure in an otherwise tense national security framework. Those who fear his rising influence in the defence sector are the real enemies of progress,” the statement added.
While calling on the EFCC to independently and professionally scrutinise any petition before initiating an investigation, HURIWA insisted that the commission must act on facts, not public sentiment or pressure from politically compromised interest groups.