Former House of Representatives member, Faruk Lawan, has announced his departure from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), alleging that the party’s leader, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, never contacted him during his time in prison.
Lawan, who was recently pardoned by President Bola Tinubu for corruption offences, revealed the political split in an interview with BBC Hausa.
He expressed disappointment over Kwankwaso’s lack of support, stating, “Now a whole year has passed, and he hasn’t called to wish me well, to say ‘May God bring you out of this place’ or to pray for me.”
While acknowledging a baseline of personal respect, Lawan made it clear that their political alliance is over. “Between me and Kwankwaso, there is still respect and relationships, but politically to be sincere, I’m no longer aligning with him and the NNPP,” he said.
Explaining his reason for leaving, Lawan stated that the party is no longer a fit for his ambitions. “Even before now, the party I belong to is a national party. I’m not a local politician, and I believe my political reach should be expansive. As it stands now, the NNPP feels too small for me,” he added.
Reflecting on his incarceration, Lawan said the experience helped him identify his true allies. “Whenever God places you in a trial, He illuminates for you who your allies are and who are not. If you are in such a place (prison), you have a long time to reflect on your relationships,” he said.
He contrasted Kwankwaso’s silence with the support he received from other figures, notably former APC National Chairman, Umar Ganduje. “There is not a week that will pass by that he will not call me for us to talk for an hour, asking me how the situation is, including my lawyer arrangements,” Lawan recalled.
The former lawmaker described his presidential pardon as a joyful relief and a fresh start. “If one faces a trial and God presents a chance for pardon, then one must rejoice,” he said. “Honestly, my family, my supporters, wherever they are, we all know that the day this happened was a day of joy for all of us.”
He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, saying, “It was also a day we gave thanks to God, for He delivered us, and to thank the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for doing what was right and deserving of commendation.”
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