Can Kwankwasiya Movt’s Protest Free Kwankwaso From US Visa Ban?

Can protests from the Kwankwasiyya Movement save its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwasofrom a possible United States, US visa ban?

That is the big question that awaits an answer even as the movement expresses grave concern receiving news of a proposed visa ban against the politician.

There are indications that his name features for religious freedom violations in the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026 (HR 7457) before the United States Congress

First it was the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) that expressed shock over the proposed bill.

Also taking exceptions, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has stated that its leader had never been indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights violations

In a statement by the Movement’s spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, it stated:

“We state unequivocally that these allegations are unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with the verifiable public record of Senator Kwankwaso’s life and service.

”For over 30 years, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has served Nigeria at the highest levels as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Senator of the Federal Republic, and presidential candidate.

“Throughout this period, he has never been indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights violations. The constitutional development of Sharia-based legal systems in certain northern Nigerian states was neither unique to Kano State nor the initiative of one individual.

“Multiple states adopted similar legal frameworks within the ambit of Nigeria’s federal constitution, legislative processes, and judicial safeguards. These systems remain subject to constitutional oversight and appellate review. To single out Senator Kwankwaso while similar constitutional arrangements exist across several states raises serious questions about the basis, consistency, and evidentiary standard behind such a recommendation”, the statement partly read.

“International relations are traditionally guided by contextual understanding and respect for constitutional sovereignty.

“The United States maintains diplomatic and strategic relationships with several sovereign nations whose legal systems incorporate Islamic jurisprudence.

“It would therefore be inconsistent to treat Nigeria’s constitutionally grounded legal pluralism differently without clear, individualised evidence of wrongdoing.

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“Senator Kwankwaso’s record stands firmly against violence, extremism, and terrorism.

“During his tenure as Governor of Kano State, decisive measures were taken to curtail extremist threats and protect lives and property across religious divides. He maintained constructive engagement with Christian leaders and minority communities and consistently promoted peaceful coexistence.

“His 2023 presidential ticket, which paired him with Bishop Isaac Idahosa, reflected his enduring belief in religious inclusion and national balance.

“It is, therefore, deeply concerning that an opposition political leader with a longstanding national profile, who has consistently spoken on issues of governance and security, would be isolated in a matter of such gravity without transparent and verifiable findings.

“The Kwankwasiyya Movement respectfully calls on the US Congress to outrightly reject this recommendation and remove Dr Kwankwaso’s name from the proposed bill”.

Asserting that the inclusion of Kwankwaso’s name in the US visa ban was instigated by opponents  on a mission to settle personal scores , it added:

“Allegations of this magnitude must be grounded in demonstrable facts, not generalised assumptions.

“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remains a nationalist, a democrat, and a statesman whose public service has been anchored on justice, unity, and inclusive governance. We are confident that fairness, due diligence, and objective assessment will ultimately prevail.”