El-Rufai Defends Kwankwaso Against US Sanction Claims

In a recent interview, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai dismissed claims that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso is a religious extremist, which were highlighted in a proposed US Congress sanction bill. The bill names Kwankwaso among individuals potentially subject to visa bans and asset freezes for alleged violations of religious freedom.

El-Rufai argued that it is misleading to single out Kwankwaso, noting that several northern states, including Zamfara and Kano, have adopted similar legal frameworks to implement sharia law. He questioned why Kwankwaso's enforcement of sharia law was being scrutinized while other governors who have enacted similar laws were not mentioned in the ongoing debate about religious freedom violations in the region.