The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has condemned a bill before the United States congress seeking to impose sanctions on Rabiu Kwankwaso, its national leader, for alleged “severe religious freedom violations”.
On Tuesday, five US lawmakers introduced a bill in the country’s house of representatives to compel the secretary of state to submit a “comprehensive report on US efforts to address the ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.
If the proposed legislation becomes law, the Departments of State and Treasury are expected to impose sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes, on “individuals or entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations” in Nigeria.
The entities and individuals listed for sanctions are Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano; Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria; Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore; and those described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Ladipo Johnson, NNPP national publicity secretary, dismissed the allegations, describing them as a “contrived action” against an innocent man with no ties to religious fundamentalism.
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“We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“His record is there in the public domain, either in public office or in private life, and it is advisable for people to investigate such things properly before reaching such conclusions.”Johnson said the development is as a result of Kwankwaso’s previous response to US President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over religious persecution.
In a post on X, Kwankwaso had cautioned against “oversimplified characterisations” of Nigeria’s challenges, emphasising the country’s sovereignty and threats from outlaws.
Riley Moore, the author of the bill, had publicly questioned Kwankwaso about his “complicity in the death of Christians”, citing the introduction of full Sharia law in Kano state when he was the governor.
But Johnson carpeted the US lawmaker for his stance on Kwankwaso, noting that the NNPP national leader has been more outspoken about the insecurity in the country.
“Is Rep Moore being fair or selective? Isn’t the US in a good relationship with Qatar and Saudi (both Sharia countries)?” he asked.
“Isn’t it strange that it is Kwankwaso, an opposition leader that has spoken out so many times about the insecurity under this administration, that the United States now seems to be turning on?”
He also said as governor of Kano, Governor Kwankwaso eradicated Boko Haram from the state and had close ties with Christian leaders.
“These are the facts, which we think should guide the Congress and its leaders, particularly Reps Riley Moore and Chris Smith, to do a thorough investigation on the credibility of our leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, so that justice is done to his noble name and cleared of such undue embarrassment,” Johnson added.
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