Farouk Lawan, former representative of Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, says he felt abandoned by the leadership of the Kwankwasiyya movement during his time in prison.
He was among 175 people granted presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 9.
READ ALSO: Tinubu grants presidential pardon to Herbert Macaulay, 174 others
In an interview with the BBC, Lawan reflected on how his incarceration reshaped his views on politics and loyalty. He described the lack of support he received from the movement he had long been part of and explained how the experience opened his eyes to who his true allies were. Despite these challenges, he had previously guided his supporters to join the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) ahead of the 2023 elections.
Lawan says he has now outgrown the NNPP, describing it as too restrictive for his broad political vision. He plans to re-enter mainstream national politics in the coming months, seeking a wider platform to pursue his ambitions.
Following his presidential pardon, Lawan expressed gratitude to Tinubu and confidence in the opportunities that lie ahead for his political career.
The former lawmaker was convicted in 2021 on three counts of corruption for allegedly collecting a bribe in 2012 to remove a company’s name from a list of firms indicted in the fuel subsidy scam. He completed his jail term and regained freedom in October 2024
