Nura Abdullahi

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised a proposed bill by five United States lawmakers seeking sanctions against former Kano State governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, among others.

KANO FOCUS reports that the bill reportedly recommends measures including visa bans and asset freezes over alleged religious freedom violations.

In a press release issued on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, described the move as “lopsided, unjust and selective.”

Akintola argued that if sanctions are to be imposed, they should not focus solely on Muslim individuals and groups. He called for what he described as a balanced and comprehensive approach, alleging that there are also cases of religious extremism and violations committed by actors in other parts of the country.

“We affirm that there is denial of religious freedom and religious extremism in Nigeria,” he said. “But the culprits include fanatics among both Christians and Muslims. If sanctions are to be imposed, they must be comprehensive and unbiased.”

The group alleged that some government officials in Southern Nigeria and certain militia groups in North Central Nigeria have also been involved in rights violations and should be investigated if the U.S. intends to ensure fairness.

MURIC further claimed that U.S. officials often engage Christian leaders and activists from Nigeria without giving equal hearing to Muslim representatives, describing the approach as contrary to the principle of fairness.

Akintola also expressed concern over what he termed the “false designation” of Nigeria as a country perpetrating genocide against Christians, urging the U.S. Congress to conduct broader consultations and investigations before taking punitive measures.

The organisation said it has documented cases of alleged discrimination and marginalisation of Muslims in parts of Southern Nigeria and is prepared to present such records to international bodies if given the opportunity.

While stressing that Nigerian Muslims have no hostility toward the United States, MURIC called for caution, urging U.S. lawmakers to undertake further findings before imposing sanctions.

The group also warned that extremist organisations such as Boko Haram and ISIS should not be allowed to exploit the situation.

The proposed bill remains at the introduction stage in the U.S. Congress and has not yet been passed into law.

Ibrahim Khalil

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expressed shock over reports that a bill before the United States Congress named its National Leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, among individuals recommended for targeted sanctions over alleged religious freedom violations.

In a press statement issued Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, the party said it was surprised that Kwankwaso was listed in the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457) alongside the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and a Fulani ethnic militia group.

According to the bill, those named could face sanctions including visa bans and asset freezes for purported involvement in “severe religious freedom violations.”

Reacting to the development, the NNPP dismissed what it described as “any notion” that Kwankwaso had been responsible for religious freedom violations, insisting that his public record does not support such allegations.

“We see this development as a contrived action against an innocent man who clearly has no relationship with religious fundamentalism in Nigeria,” Johnson said. “His record is in the public domain, both in public office and in private life. It is advisable for people to properly investigate before reaching such conclusions.”

The party recalled that months earlier, Kwankwaso had publicly criticised the United States’ redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged religious persecution. In a statement posted on his X handle at the time, he cautioned against what he described as oversimplified characterisations of Nigeria’s internal challenges, stressing that the country faces multiple security threats from criminal elements.

Johnson noted that following Kwankwaso’s comments, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore reacted on social media, accusing the former Kano governor of complicity in anti-Christian violence and referencing the introduction of Sharia law in Kano during his tenure.

However, the NNPP questioned why Kwankwaso was singled out, noting that several northern states implemented Sharia around the same period.

“Is this enough to accuse Kwankwaso of severe religious freedom violations? Why were other governors not similarly accused?” the statement queried, also pointing to U.S. relations with countries that operate under Sharia legal systems.

The party further argued that during his tenure as governor, Kwankwaso maintained cordial relationships with Christian leaders in Kano and across Nigeria. It also stated that he supported former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, during his re-election bid, a move it claimed cost him political support in Kano at the time.

The NNPP added that in the 2023 presidential election, Kwankwaso ran on a joint ticket with Bishop Isaac Idahosa, describing this as further evidence of his inclusive political outlook.

The party called on members of the U.S. Congress, particularly Representatives Riley Moore and Chris Smith, to conduct what it described as a thorough and fair investigation into the matter.

It urged U.S. lawmakers to ensure that “justice is done” and that Kwankwaso’s reputation is not tarnished by what it termed undue embarrassment.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Media scholar and columnist Farooq Kperogi has expressed surprise over the inclusion of former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in a proposed United States bill seeking visa bans and asset freezes against certain Nigerian officials over alleged religious freedom violations.

In a post published Thursday on his verified Facebook account, Kperogi said he was initially “surprised, shocked even” that Kwankwaso was singled out by Republican congressmen in the proposed “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.”

According to him, a Daily Trust explainer on the bill clarified the rationale behind the move.

Kperogi argued that Kwankwaso’s political history does not support claims of religious extremism. He recalled that as governor of Kano State in 2000, Kwankwaso was reluctant to introduce Sharia law and faced significant pressure from both the public and sections of the Muslim clerical establishment before eventually declaring it.

Citing his own report published in Weekly Trust on June 30, 2000, co-authored with Sulaiman Aliyu and titled “Sharia: Triumph of Kano Masses,” Kperogi said Kwankwaso resisted the declaration of Sharia for months. He noted that the Sharia bill in Kano was introduced as a private bill, unlike in several other northern states, and was not sponsored by either the governor or state lawmakers.

He said the pressure on Kwankwaso at the time was so intense that the governor temporarily stopped attending public functions, with his deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, frequently representing him. On one occasion, Ganduje was reportedly stoned during a Maulud celebration while standing in for the governor.

Kperogi quoted from his 2000 report, describing Kwankwaso as being “trapped in a delicate cul-de-sac,” with the eventual declaration of Sharia on June 21, 2000, presented as his only political escape route.

He further recalled that during the formal launch of Sharia, Kwankwaso cautioned against vigilantism and intimidation of non-Muslims, stating that only the state government had the authority to punish offenders.

According to Kperogi, Kwankwaso’s implementation of Sharia was widely perceived as lukewarm, contributing to tensions with influential clerics and ultimately to his defeat in the 2003 governorship election to Ibrahim Shekarau.

The columnist also referenced past rumours questioning Kwankwaso’s identity, describing them as false and politically motivated. He cited a 2023 Arise TV interview in which the issue was raised, noting that he had previously written about the episode.

On why Kwankwaso may have been singled out in the proposed U.S. legislation, Kperogi suggested it was linked to the former governor’s public criticism of the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom issues.

Kwankwaso had argued that the designation oversimplified a complex situation and that cooperation would be more constructive than confrontation.

Kperogi noted that U.S. Congressman Riley Moore reacted sharply on social media, accusing Kwankwaso of complicity in anti-Christian violence and referencing the introduction of Sharia law in Kano.

However, he said Kwankwaso did not respond to the comments and argued that the complexities surrounding Sharia’s adoption in Kano could not be adequately addressed in a social media exchange.

Kperogi further observed that the bill remains at the introduction stage in the U.S. House of Representatives and must pass several legislative hurdles before becoming law. He added that many Nigeria-specific standalone bills historically do not progress beyond the committee stage.

He concluded by suggesting that the controversy could inadvertently boost Kwankwaso’s political profile beyond Kano, potentially strengthening his appeal among northern voters.