Kwankwaso Responds to US Sanctions Over Sharia Law

Rabiu Kwankwaso, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former governor of Kano State, addressed the recent sanctions imposed by the US Congress regarding Sharia law. He suggested that the inclusion of his name in the sanctions was not an oversight but a deliberate act of sabotage by domestic political rivals.

Kwankwaso pointed out the irony of blaming him for implementing Sharia law, noting that the push for legal reform began in the early 2000s with Zamfara State. He expressed shock at the US's decision, which he felt misrepresented the historical context of Sharia law in Nigeria.

Kwankwaso emphasized that his administration's actions were rooted in democracy and due process. He lamented the hesitance of critics regarding the Sharia legal system and mentioned that the US had recently placed Nigeria back on a watchlist due to concerns over religious freedom, following reports of attacks on worship centers and the state's failure to prosecute violence.