KANO, NIGERIA — A controversial legislative move in Washington has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and religious landscape, as Northern leaders warn that American interference in the country’s legal and religious structures could push the federation toward a definitive breaking point.
The tension centers on the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act (H.R. 7457), a proposed U.S. bill that targets high-profile figures—including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—with potential visa bans and asset freezes over allegations of “systemic religious persecution.”
Kano Defiant: “Unfounded Allegations”
The Kano State House of Assembly moved unanimously this week to pass a motion of urgent importance, calling on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to deploy every diplomatic tool to “quash” the U.S. sanctions”. Lawmakers described the bill as a direct assault on the sovereignty of the North and a gross mischaracterization of the region’s legal system.
Hon. Usman Tasiu, who led the motion, defended Kwankwaso’s record, describing him as a “unifying figure” whose leadership has benefited both Christians and Muslims. Supporters in the North argue that the U.S. is being misled by partisan actors to target Sharia-compliant states, a move they warn is a “red line” for national stability.
The Sharia Debate: A Divided House
The undercurrent of the U.S. bill—viewed by many as a critique of Sharia law—has reignited a dangerous debate between the North and South.
- The Northern Warning: Political analysts in the region are cautioning that any Nigerian Christians supporting the U.S. intervention are “inviting a problem that could divide the country.” They argue that the dual legal system is a fundamental pillar of the 1914 Amalgamation and that external pressure to dismantle it will only fuel radicalization.
- The Southern Perspective: Conversely, some human rights groups and Christian organizations have welcomed the international scrutiny, citing “blasphemy laws” as a tool for persecution. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has yet to issue a formal endorsement of the bill, wary of the sectarian firestorm it might ignite.
A Nation Under Siege
This religious-legal standoff comes at a time when the Nigerian state appears increasingly overstretched:
- The Insecurity Crisis: While Washington debates sanctions, Governor Bala Mohammed is pleading for help against 10,000 armed bandits in Bauchi, and the Lakurawa group is massacring worshippers in Kebbi mosques.
- The “Regency” Distraction: Critics like Cardinal Onaiyekan and Buba Galadima continue to slam the Abuja “regency” for prioritizing a $9 million U.S. lobbying fund over the immediate survival of the people.
As the United Nations warns of a $347 million shortfall in aid that could leave millions to starve, the prospect of a fresh religious-legal conflict is the last thing the federation needs. Whether the U.S. Congress proceeds with H.R. 7457 or retreats, the damage to Nigeria’s internal cohesion may already be done.
