Hon. Faruk Lawan: A Lesson In History
Hon. Faruk Lawan was a shining star on the floor of Nigeria’s National Assembly from 1999 when democratic Government was restored by former Head of State, Rtd General Abdulsalami Abunakar, GCFR. He was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP representing Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency, Kano State. He was elected four times, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. It was his fourth tenure, which had established him as a familiar face in the lower chamber with great promise and political prospects, but found himself face to face with the reality of falling into the murky political waters. He also had the bitter taste of the Nigerian state and backstabbing as well.
Surely, Faruk Lawan had a starling performance not just as an eloquent and vocal member of the House of Representatives, but also among the most credible one during his time. Along with Hon. Members of like minds in the House, gave former President Obasanjo a run for his money. The former President had lord his power over everyone that matter in Nigeria, they stood against him and thwarted his cunning towards his third term bid in 2007. Hon. Faruk was at a time a staunch member and founder of the Integrity Group in the House and supporter of late Speaker, Rt Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, GCON who fought the excesses and corrupt tendencies of the former President relentlessly.
There was no doubt that Hon. Faruk was the least expected to be charged and eventually convicted of corruption from the National Assembly whenehe was instrumental in all cases of exposing corruption. He was part of the damaging display of money on the floor of the House as evidence that it was President Obasanjo who bribed them with the money. Most of those Hon. Members including the Speaker, late Ghali Umar Na’Abba did not return to the House of Representatives except few like Hon. Faruk Lawan.
In 2012, when former President Jonathan, GCFR held sway, the controversy and serious allegation of Oil Subsidy fraud was so rife, Hon. Faruk was on merit, tasked to be the Chairman of an Ad-Hoc Committee in the House to investigate the fraud allegations against some powerful oil magnets over the subsidy regime. It was a task that obviously was meant to expose the illicit deals perpetrated by the oil tycoons and government officials. Chief Otedola, whose Company Zenon Peroleoum & Gas Ltd was also being investigated, found a way to rope in Faruk Lawan on accusation for asking and taking bribe from him of five hundred thousand dollars, ($500, 000:00).
The accusation led to a court case and became a celebrated one, which Faruk fought tooth and nail up to the Supreme Court, but was nonetheless eventually jailed for seven years, and later reduced to five years. He served the sentence largely in silence until his release on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. At last, Faruk breathed the air of freedom and undertake to open a new chapter in his life.
Hon Faruk did release a statement on his new freedom as he said: ” Today marks the begining of a new chapter in my life as I step out of Kuje Custodial Centre, with a heart full of gratitude to Allah SWT for seeing me through this trial.
My gratitude is deep, I am alive and in good health and high spirits to be with my family, and friends who stood by me through this particularly trying phase of my life”
What more? Hon. Faruk is free and cleansed of all accusations. What matters now is to forge ahead with his life in what the law has allowed him to do. And this exactly is the lesson for all, what exactly happened to Hon Faruk? How did it happened? And why? What next? There can be no end to torrents of questions that will arise every day. Just as he will surely give his own account, people will equally say there own story. Lest we forget, is Nigeria getting it right in it’s fight of corrupt tendencies? How many more do we need to send to jail to change the narrative on corruption? And how many more cases are being executed to their logical conclusions? Aren’t we able to now to cover corrupt practices more than before?
While Hon. Faruk is surely enjoying his freedom, we wish him the best and congratulate him for surviving the trauma he might have gone through. Many have died in custody without knowing exactly the cause of their death. I sincerely welcome Hon. Faruk to a ‘ New Nigeria ‘ where everything goes. And I cannot but always see in him an academic scholar and activist who did taught me a lesson in Stylistics in the mid eighties at the University, though brief as it was, I believe Hon. Faruk still has a fire in his belly!
Adamu Muhammad Nababa
mnababaadamu@gmail.com
Kano, Nigeria
