By Joy Onu
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised the Northern Youth Council over its call for the removal of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over the death of Miss Mary Habila, describing the demand as premature and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the student body urged groups and individuals to refrain from exploiting Habila’s death for personal or political interests, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the incident should be established through due process.
While sympathising with the family of the deceased, NANS said the death of the young woman should not be turned into a platform for settling scores or advancing political agendas.
According to the association, available reports indicate that Umahi had consistently maintained that the actual cause of Habila’s death should be determined through a thorough investigation and had formally requested the police to conduct an autopsy.
It noted, however, that reports suggested the deceased’s family objected to the request for an autopsy.
The association questioned the basis for the Northern Youth Council’s seven-day ultimatum asking the minister to step aside, arguing that such a demand was difficult to justify when he had openly called for an impartial investigation.
“A rational individual can only question why the Northern Youth Council is coming out openly to give Engineer David Umahi a seven-day ultimatum to step aside as the Minister of Works despite having written to the police to allow for the conduct of an autopsy to establish the cause of Late Mary Habila’s death,” the statement said.
NANS maintained that any group genuinely seeking justice would allow investigations to run their course instead of demanding the minister’s removal before the facts surrounding the case had been established.
It accused the Northern Youth Council of misplacing its priorities, saying the organisation should focus on ensuring justice rather than directing attacks at the minister.
The student body also defended Umahi’s performance in office, saying it was familiar with the Ministry of Works’ project reports and the quality of road infrastructure being delivered across the country.
It argued that the minister should not be pressured to resign over allegations that had yet to be substantiated.
“NANS is committed to justice, fairness and an equitable system that shields no one, regardless of class or status,” the association said, adding that it supported a transparent investigation into Habila’s death.
The association described the call for Umahi’s removal as “an ill-conceived attack” on a serving minister who had already requested an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
It urged the Northern Youth Council to stop what it described as attacks on the minister and instead approach the matter from “a logical and impartial standpoint,” while allowing investigators to establish the facts surrounding the case.
