Why I Quit Kwankwasiyya Movement After Presidential Pardon, Explains Farouk Lawan

Former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, has revealed that his decision to part ways with the Kwankwasiyya movement was driven by neglect from its leadership during his time of tribulation.

Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, was among the 175 individuals granted presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 9.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the former lawmaker described the pardon as a new beginning for him, noting that his imprisonment reshaped his views about politics, loyalty, and friendship.

Lawan was convicted in 2021 on three counts of corruption over allegations that he received a bribe in 2012 to remove a company’s name from a list of firms implicated in the fuel subsidy scandal.

He completed his jail term and regained freedom in October 2024.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Lawan said he was deeply disappointed by the silence of key figures in the Kwankwasiyya movement, despite his years of loyalty and contribution to their cause.

“Whenever God puts you through a trial, He allows you to see who truly stands by you,” he said. “It’s been a year since I regained my freedom, and someone very important in the movement never reached out — not even to say, ‘May Allah bless you.’”

The former lawmaker disclosed that even while in prison, he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but had instructed his political followers to support the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) during the 2023 general elections.

However, Lawan said he no longer feels aligned with the NNPP, describing the party as “too narrow” for his political vision. “Politics should be broad and inclusive,” he stated. “The NNPP, as it stands today, is too restrictive for me. I want to return to mainstream national politics.”

Lawan’s remarks mark a clear shift in his political direction, signaling his readiness to reestablish himself in Nigeria’s broader political landscape following his presidential pardon.