NNPP leader fires back at Lamido over sorcery, non indigent claims

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

In a dramatic twist to the ongoing political discourse in Jigawa State, the 2023 Gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, has fiercely responded to claims made by former Governor Sule Lamido, in his recently launched autobiography.

According to Ringim, the book, recounts Lamido’s personal and political journey, contains scathing remarks about Ringim, including bizarre accusations of witchcraft, diabolical manipulation, and alleged reasons for electoral defeats.

Our correspondent reports that the political feud, once thought to be dormant, has been reignited with strong reactions from Ringim, who accused the former governor of spreading falsehoods, distorting history, and sabotaging the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Ringim at a gathering in Taura Local Government,  expressed disappointment over Lamido’s “deliberate distortion of truth,” particularly the claims that Ringim practiced sorcery to influence the former governor during their time in government.

He maintained that, in Lamido’s book, Mr. Lamido alleged that he was warned by a political associate, Salisu Kanya, to be cautious of Ringim, whom he described as being involved in ‘magical practices.’

The NNPP leader noted that the former governor narrated a story that he allegedly buried a black donkey within the Government House grounds in a supposed act of witchcraft to control him.

He added that  Lamido claimed that, although he was unfazed by the rumors, he had the state’s finances audited to ensure no misappropriation had occurred, adding that when no funds were found missing, he reportedly told Ringim: “Go on with your wizardry.”

Ringim, however,  dismissed the allegations as not only false but deeply offensive.

“It’s unfortunate that someone of Lamido’s stature would stoop so low as to include such baseless stories in a book.

“Anyone who believes in sorcery is the one practicing it”, he stated.

In an emotionally charged clarification, Ringim outlined his family background to counter insinuations that he was of foreign descent.

“I am a son of Bagon Madawakai in Ringim. My father, grandfather, great grandfather are from there just two kilometres away from Ringim town.

“My father Malam Ibrahim relocated to Ringim and was the ward head of Marakawa quaters and a respected elder who settled in Ringim. My mother hails from Danbatta in Kano State.

“Yes, I lived in Niger Republic for five years as a child, but that was after my parents divorced and my mother remarried in Dansure and  her husband who is a Islamic scholar travelled with her to Matamaye in Niger Republic, and is a known fact normally if such thing happened, the mother will take her small child and go . It was not because we were from there”, Ringim clarified.

He added that such claims were not only hurtful but part of a broader agenda to tarnish his image and alienate him from his political base.