Analyst describes inclusion of Kwankwaso in proposed US bill as ‘witch-hunt’
By NASRUDEEN ABBAS
In the meantime, The DEFENDER reports that the development where US President Donald Trump just wakes up one morning and dishes orders as to how Nigeria should carry on its affairs is getting more unfortunate as it depicts the idea of the country as now a colony of America.
Counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama has criticised the reported inclusion of former Kano State governor and senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in a proposed United States religious freedom bill, describing the move as a “witch-hunt” stemming from a social media exchange rather than documented evidence.
The proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, sponsored by US Representatives Riley Moore and Chris Smith, seeks to sanction Fulani militias and Kwankwaso over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.
According to Makama and other critics, Kwankwaso’s inclusion in the draft legislation followed a public exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter, with Moore, rather than any proven involvement in religious rights violations.
The dispute emerged after US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations.
In response to the designation, Kwankwaso expressed concern about what he described as “heightened pronouncements” by the US president, warning that such rhetoric could deepen divisions instead of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
“I have noted with increasing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’,” Kwankwaso said.
He emphasised that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation facing threats from criminal and terrorist networks that target victims regardless of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
“These threats come from terrorist and criminal networks whose victims are both Muslims and Christians. What Nigeria needs is support in technology, intelligence and operational capacity, not threats that polarise our people,” he said.
Kwankwaso also called for unity among Nigerians and urged the Federal Government to strengthen diplomatic engagement with the United States through special envoys and permanent ambassadors.
In a swift reaction on X, Moore accused Kwankwaso of hypocrisy and linked him to alleged religious persecution in northern Nigeria, citing the implementation of Sharia law in Kano State during his tenure as governor.
Observers note that the exchange marked a shift from policy debate to personal accusations. Makama argued that linking Sharia law to the activities of armed groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province is misleading, asserting that terrorism — not constitutional religious law — is responsible for violence affecting both Muslims and Christians.
Supporters of the former governor point to Kano State’s record during the peak of the insurgency, noting that authorities under Kwankwaso confronted Boko Haram cells and prevented the group from establishing territorial control in the state.
Security analyst Bulama Bukarti also questioned the basis for Kwankwaso’s inclusion in the bill, describing it as unfair and erroneous, and calling for his name to be withdrawn.
As of publication, no publicly available evidence has linked Kwankwaso to acts of Christian persecution. Analysts warn that using foreign legislation to target political figures over social media disputes could strain diplomatic relations and risk inflaming sectarian tensions, underscoring the need for due process and substantiated claims in matters of international accountability.
In the meantime, The DEFENDER reports that the development where US President Donald Trump just wakes up one morning and dishes orders as to how Nigeria should carry on its affairs is getting more unfortunate as it depicts the idea of the country as now a colony of America.
The global online newspaper also reports that the development smacks of consequences for u serious leadership where, despite being African giant, Nigeria still dances to the tune of America without ability to own its own mind where Burkina Faso, not far from it, has liberated itself, its people, land and resources from the Western dominance and manipulation.
