The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has issued a strongly worded admonition to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), urging the student body to immediately abandon any planned protests against the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawelle, and to refocus its energies on academic and educational advocacy rather than partisan political engagements.
In a press release signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and Chief Chinenyeze Ohia, National Spokesman of the organization, Ohanaeze described Dr. Matawelle as one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s most strategic and dependable assets in the North, noting that his role in the nation’s anti-terrorism architecture has been both decisive and impactful.
According to Ohanaeze, recent military offensives carried out in Kebbi State and other flashpoints under the authority of President Tinubu have significantly weakened armed bandit groups and insurgent networks, earning Dr. Matawelle widespread commendation across the country. The organization asserted that these bold actions have simultaneously attracted fierce opposition from vested interests who thrive on insecurity and political instability.
Ohanaeze warned that Nigeria is presently navigating a dangerous phase in its political evolution, where sponsors of terrorism and banditry, described as shadowy power brokers embedded within the political system, are allegedly regrouping to sabotage the Federal Government’s security gains. The group stated that these elements are pursuing a dual agenda: first, to escalate terror attacks in order to instill fear and manufacture political capital ahead of the 2027 general elections; and second, to unleash a coordinated campaign of calumny, blackmail, and media manipulation against key allies of President Tinubu.
Within this context, Ohanaeze maintained that Dr. Bello Matawelle has emerged as a prime target, precisely because of his uncompromising posture against criminal networks and his loyalty to the current administration. The organization described him as a political and security bulwark whose effectiveness has unsettled anti-democratic forces determined to weaken President Tinubu’s government.
Expressing deep concern, Ohanaeze lamented what it termed the gradual deviation of NANS from its foundational mandate. The group alleged that the student body appears to be drifting away from genuine educational advocacy and increasingly aligning itself with partisan political interests bent on destabilizing the country. Ohanaeze specifically cautioned that NANS risks being perceived as a proxy platform for opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Chibuike Amaechi, rather than a credible defender of students’ academic welfare.
The Igbo socio-cultural group further highlighted that Igbos residing across the 19 Northern states have recorded improved safety and confidence in recent years, attributing this development to the strengthened security framework overseen by President Tinubu and executed by key officials, including Dr. Matawelle. Ohanaeze praised the President for what it described as a farsighted and strategic appointment, noting that tangible security improvements have been recorded since 2023.
Ohanaeze also underscored notable achievements in the fight against insecurity, including the swift rescue of kidnapped secondary school students and other abductees, which it said exemplify the success of coordinated efforts involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), and Dr. Bello Matawelle.
In a direct charge to NANS leadership, Ohanaeze advised that rather than mobilizing protests against the Federal Government, the student body should publicly acknowledge and commend the measurable progress being made in dismantling terrorist and bandit strongholds, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The organization concluded by appealing to Nigerian parents to prevail on their children and wards involved in student unionism to resist being lured into political adventurism that could compromise their education and personal safety. Ohanaeze urged students to channel their energies toward academic excellence and nation-building, warning that aligning with forces of insecurity and political desperation would only imperil Nigeria’s fragile stability.
Ohanaeze reaffirmed its commitment to national unity, peace, and security, stressing that at a time of heightened national urgency, all patriotic groups, students included, must rise above partisan manipulation and stand firmly with institutions and individuals working to secure Nigeria’s future.