Aliu: Kwankwaso’s Inclusion In US Spiritual Freedom Invoice ‘Malicious’
2023 Nationwide Marketing campaign Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Occasion (NNPP) and shut aide to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Folasade Aliu, has described a proposed United States invoice linking the previous Kano governor to alleged spiritual freedom violations as “critically malicious” and “politically motivated,” insisting his inclusion is unfounded.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Aliu stated the Nigeria Spiritual Freedom and Accountability Act 2026, at present earlier than the US Congress, wrongly talked about Kwankwaso and lumped him along with {groups} he has “nothing by any means to do with.”
“I’ve seen it. I’ve gone via it, reviewed it with our workforce, and I’ve captured it all over on social media. However my notion of the entire thing is that for those who undergo the whole doc, you’ll be able to inform that that is merely malicious,” she stated.
Aliu maintained that her workforce has begun taking steps behind the scenes to problem the event.
“We aren’t folding our arms. We’ve executed a lot within the again finish, and presumably you’ll be listening to from us. This isn’t the tip of it as a result of we consider that it’s politically motivated. We additionally consider that it’s very malicious,” she said.
Questioning why solely Kwankwaso was singled out in a invoice addressing broader considerations about terrorism and non secular violence in Nigeria, she added: “Out of every thing now we have heard about terrorism, kidnapping and so forth in Nigeria, you simply have one particular person named in a invoice that severe. It’s easy one plus one.”
Aliu argued that the part referencing the senator appeared within the a part of the invoice outlining proposed penalties, the place his title was “lumped along with some organisations” with none confirmed alignment.
“The very fact of the matter is that you’ve a person that you haven’t in any form or type aligned with these organisations, even in Nigeria, and swiftly his title simply appeared. What else can we name that if it’s not malicious?” she stated.
Addressing considerations concerning the enlargement of Sharia-based authorized techniques in northern Nigeria, Aliu rejected claims that Kwankwaso initiated or uniquely drove such insurance policies.
“He’s speaking about the truth that he originated, that he’s the primary governor that had one thing to do with Sharia regulation, which isn’t appropriate. When you’re speaking about Sharia, you’re speaking about one thing based mostly on the structure. It’s not a one-man factor. It’s not a one-state factor. All people is aware of that,” she stated.
Aliu, who recognized herself as a Catholic, additionally defended Kwankwaso’s private document on spiritual tolerance.
“I’m a Catholic. I work instantly with him. I’ve not seen something and no indication by any means that may inform me that this individual has something to do with spiritual bigotry or terrorism. I might not affiliate with one thing of such,” she stated.
Describing him as “an individual of character, a nationalist, inclusive, accessible and compassionate,” she added: “He appreciates that I am going to my night Mass at 6 p.m., and he does his Muslim prayers. These are the little particulars that present that this particular person understands and respects different individuals’s faith.”
Aliu additional steered that political rivals could have influenced the invoice via lobbying efforts.
“Should you pay any lobbyist sufficient, they’ll do no matter they should do. I’m seeing the handwriting on the wall,” she stated, including that “this factor would have been initiated from someplace. It has Nigeria throughout it.”
Whereas acknowledging the diplomatic implications of the invoice, particularly in the US, she insisted she was not personally nervous about its long-term affect on Kwankwaso’s political standing.
“Sure, it’s an enormous deal that America is concerned. However I’m not involved as a result of I do know the person, Distinguished Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He’s not a child politician. He has been round. They’ve tried every thing potential to blackmail this individual and so they haven’t succeeded,” she stated.
On whether or not the senator would have interaction instantly with U.S. lawmakers, Aliu responded: “He positively will. And we’re ranging from Nigeria all the best way to the US Congress. We’re participating.”
She stated the engagement would happen at “totally different ranges,” starting domestically.
“Charity begins at dwelling. We aren’t going to be working to America for each little factor. We’re going to begin from Nigeria and go all the best way to the US Congress. We’re going to do every thing humanly potential to retract this,” she stated.
Aliu concluded by questioning the intent behind the invoice’s framing, arguing that isolating Kwankwaso whereas mischaracterising points corresponding to Sharia and different associations indicated haste and in poor health motive.
“If they will embody only one particular person wrongly and even quote the entire essence of Sharia wrongly, it tells me they’re dashing this. That tells you they don’t have good intentions. By God’s grace, we are going to come again and you will notice the affect of what we’re going to do,” she stated.
Boluwatife Enome
Times Nigeria