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| Image: Sule Lamido and Aminu Ringim. |
By Ibrahim Ibrahim
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.
The book, which 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.
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).
At a gathering in Taura Local Government, Malam Aminu Ringim 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.
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 former governor narrated a story that Ringim allegedly buried a black donkey within the Government House grounds in a supposed act of witchcraft to control him. Lamido claimed that, although he was unfazed by the rumors, he had the state’s finances audited to ensure no misappropriation had occurred. When no funds were found missing, he reportedly told Ringim: “Go on with your wizardry.”
Ringim, in his response, 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,” he said. “Anyone who believes in sorcery is the one practicing it.”
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,” he stated. “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.
Perhaps more damning were Lamido's accusations in his book that Ringim lost gubernatorial elections in the 2015 and 2019 which he contested under the PDP because of his bad records with his friends and political associates.
“He accused me of losing the election because of my ‘bad record’ and problems with my political friends. That confirmed to me that he intentionally worked against us,” Ringim alleged.
Ringim claims that, it's now Lamido intentionally sowed discord between me and key political allies, resulting in a fractured support base.
He gave specific instances, including the case of Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure, who reportedly refused to support Ringim because he failed to meet financial demands allegedly made by Lamido on Kazaure’s behalf—a request Ringim said he was never informed about.
“He told Falalu to contest for local government chairman, and then secretly told me to write a letter to nominate Suleiman. He created confusion everywhere,” Ringim stated. “If he challenges me, I can release a list of over 100 cases where he caused divisions.”
Throughout his statement, Ringim hinted at a complicated relationship with the former governor, whom he served under as a close political ally. Despite multiple betrayals, he said he continued to protect Lamido’s image for the sake of loyalty and peace.
“I covered up so much for him, took the blame so he could enjoy peace. But now I see clearly,” Ringim said, adding that some of his strongest supporters left him out of frustration over his refusal to break ties with Lamido.
“They told me clearly—leave Lamido or we will leave you. And because of my respect for him, I let them go.” Ringim said.
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