The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected calls for the blacklisting of its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over alleged religious freedom violations.
The party was reacting to reports that some United States congressmen sponsored a bill seeking to impose visa sanctions and freeze Kwankwaso’s assets, alongside the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and a Fulani ethnic militia, over alleged severe religious freedom abuses.
In a statement, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed the allegations, insisting that Kwankwaso had no link to any form of religious fundamentalism.
“We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria. 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 party recalled that Kwankwaso had previously reacted to the redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by former US President Donald Trump, cautioning against what he described as oversimplified characterisations of Nigeria’s internal challenges.
The NNPP also referenced comments by US Congressman Riley Moore, who accused Kwankwaso of complicity in the death of Christians and cited the introduction of Sharia law in Kano State during his tenure as governor.
However, the party questioned the basis of the allegations, noting that other northern governors who implemented Sharia law were not similarly accused.
It further stated that Kwankwaso maintained strong relationships with Christian leaders and had demonstrated religious tolerance, including running with Bishop Isaac Idahosa as his presidential running mate in 2023.
The party urged US lawmakers to conduct a thorough investigation and clear Kwankwaso of what it described as undue embarrassment.
