Former House of Representatives member Faruk Lawan has revealed that Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), did not reach out to him during his time in prison — nor in the year since his release.
Lawan, who was granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu on October 9, 2025, said he was disappointed that Kwankwaso, once his political ally, never offered any words of encouragement or support throughout his ordeal.
“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,” Lawan told BBC Hausa, describing his period of incarceration as a time that revealed who his true allies were.
Although he maintained that mutual respect still exists between them, Lawan stated that he is no longer politically aligned with Kwankwaso or the NNPP.
“Between me and Kwankwaso, there is still respect and relationship, but politically, to be sincere, I’m no longer aligning with him and the NNPP,” he said.
Lawan explained that his decision stems from his belief that the NNPP is too limited in scope for his political ambitions.
“Even before now, the party I belong to is a national party. I’m not a local politician. I believe my political reach should be expansive. As it stands now, the NNPP feels too small for me,” he said.
Reflecting on his time behind bars, the former lawmaker said imprisonment helped him identify those who genuinely cared about him.
“Whenever God places you in a trial, He shows you who your real friends are. If you are in such a place, you have enough time to reflect on your relationships,” he added.
He praised former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his consistent concern, revealing that Ganduje called him weekly to check on his well-being and discuss his legal situation.
Lawan also acknowledged the support of some National Assembly members and a 10-member committee sent by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who visited him and assisted in his eventual release.
Describing his presidential pardon as a new beginning, Lawan said:
“If one faces a trial and God presents a chance for pardon, then one must rejoice. The day this happened was a day of joy for me, my family, and my supporters.”
He expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu, saying:
“We gave thanks to God, for He delivered us, and to the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, for doing what was right and commendable.”
Reflecting on his faith and peace of mind during incarceration, Lawan concluded:
“Even before leaving prison, my mind was at ease. I was convinced that wherever I would go, I would find people to interact with. If others could survive there, I saw no reason why I couldn’t survive outside.”
