A prominent Northern group on the aegis of Hope Arewa Development Initiative (HADI) has accused Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) led by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko of engaging in partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy.
Its National Coordinator, Dr. Adamu Mohammed in a statement made available to Blueprint Monday in Abuja, said he was compelled to sensitise Onwubiko on the ongoing situation in Zamfara State.
He said the crux of the matter at hand revolves around allegations made by the current Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, against his predecessor and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle of sponsoring banditry.
Mohammed decried that HURIWA’s response to these allegations was puzzling and deeply troubling, adding that instead of calling for a thorough investigation into these serious claims, HURIWA chose to summarily dismiss them as “unsubstantiated” and “lacking merit.”
He noted that this knee-jerk defense of a political figure raises serious questions about HURIWA’s true allegiances and motivations.
Mohammed said: “With great disappointment and concern, we observe HURIWA’s apparent deviation from its supposed core mandate as a human rights organization, instead choosing to engage in what can only be described as partisan politicking under the guise of advocacy.
“At this juncture, let us be clear: the issues at stake here are not mere political imbroglio, as HURIWA would have us believe. They are matters of life and death, of economic survival, and of the fundamental human rights of the citizens of Zamfara State.
“To this end, the Hope Arewa Development Initiative calls on HURIWA to reconsider its position and approach.
“A true human rights organization should investigate all allegations of human rights abuses, corruption and bad governance thoroughly and impartially, who makes the accusations or who stands accused.
“HURIWA should resist the temptation to become entangled in partisan politics, maintaining independence and credibility by holding all parties to the same high standards. We urge the organization to return to its roots as a defender of human rights and to take up the real challenges facing the people of Zamfara State and the wider North.”