A rash of divisions over #PantamiMustResign

Widely divergent demands across religious and political lines continue to trail communications minister Isa Pantami’s vote face on his previous support for extremist groups.

On Tuesday, Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike in a TV interview joined calls for the minister to resign.

On the same day, the Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance called the rising calls against Pantami a well-funded programme by highly placed individuals to heighten insecurity in the country.

The governor noted that in an ideal society, an allegation that the United States of America has placed a serving minister on its watch list as regards to terrorism, should jolt any government into action.

“If it was really where a government is working, if an American government says your minister is on a watch list, it calls for concern for you say look there is a problem. The moment a high government official is on a watch list as to regards to terrorism, no government can fold its hands and allow it,” he said .

Governor Wike, said the minister ought to have resigned from the government immediately the information about his extremist views in support of terror groups became a matter of public discourse.

The governor described as worrisome the decision of the federal government to remain mute amidst the raging controversy about the minister’s sympathy for global terrorist groups.

“I don’t understand why an reasonable government will allow such a person to be in the cabinet,” he said.

The governor alleged that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government is known for its proclivity to shield persons of questionable characters, even when the country’s secret service presents overwhelming evidence against such individuals.

“But you were here when DSS wrote a report against (Ibrahim) Magu. What happened? Look, I have never seen a country that your secret service wrote a report about the nominee of Mr President, questioning his character and the rest, and that he is not appointable. What happened? So, what are you talking about. What removed Magu is a power play.”

Governor Wike, also took a swipe on the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for not taking stern disciplinary action against former Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who recently claimed he conspired with others to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election.

“If I was the leadership of the party I would have suspended Aliyu for that comment he made. But, you see nothing will happen. The National Working Committee will not do anything. Why? They need Aliyu to support them.

“I cannot understand why you are a leader, so to speak, you come out and tell the world why you fought your party. I have never seen a thing like in my life. Assuming you did it, you now want to rub it on them and that nothing will happen.

“If I was the leadership of the party, I would have suspended Aliyu and heavens will not fall. What does he want to achieve. This was 2015, we have done 2019 election. Jonathan had lost in 2015, why do you come out now to say how you fought him. Look at where we are today. So, you are telling us you made us to be in this position where we are.

“You are telling Nigerians that you are one of those who have kept Nigeria in this state that we are. And then the National working committee will not do anything because Aliyu Babangida is one of the untouchables.”

Well-funded programme

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, 20th April 2021, the coordinator of the Coalition which is an amalgamation of various Civil Society organizations, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, said it is alarmed, by the sustained campaign against Pantami.

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The coalition described Pantami as a principled, innovative and a key member of the team of the incumbent administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ihekaire said: “We are forced to publicly condemn the ongoing well coordinated campaign of calumny against Dr. Pantami, by those, whom we have discovered, are opposed, not only to the digital revolution of our economy, but also the efforts of the ministry, under his Leadership, particularly the compulsory National Identification Number NIN, which these unpatriotic Nigerians, have exploited over the years to fester insecurity in the country, when the use of mobile telecommunication devices, became a veritable tool for kidnappers, terrorists and other criminals, who operates under the cover of being anonymous to perpetrate evil unhindered.

“We dare say that Dr. Isa Pantami’s sincere admission of once holding views, which were supposedly in support of some radical groups, during his growing up years, is an unusual display of sincerity, patriotism and we see this, as a welcomed step.

“Dr Pantami’s great work and output at the ministry of digital economy where he took a Ministry that was sleeping and upgraded it to a 21st century Ministry, have become mitigating factors, against the expectations of those who are patrons of terror groups and their accomplices in the telecom business, who have over the years, profited from the insecurities being faced by our people.”

SS, NIA should investigate allegation — CAN President

The Christian Association of Nigeria has called for the Department of State Security and National Intelligence Agency to investigate allegations against Pantami.

On Tuesday, CAN president Rev Samson Ayokunle, also president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, was responding to a question during a press conference on the 108^th convention in session of the church which will hold from April 24 to 29 at the 37,000- seater auditorium Baptist International Conference Centre, BICC along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“What is the State Security Service doing? What are the police doing? What is the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency doing about the allegation? Such allegations should not be taken with levity. It should be taken seriously especially if we have data, written evidence, implicating statements or whatever. Why have they kept quiet? The question should not be directed at me as I am not in the security sector and I may not have the best information about the situation. I don’t want to make any statement that is not informed. Direct your question to DSS on why they have not investigated the allegation. Or is there no basis for it? Once they come out on the basis of empirical evidence, the situation will be settled,” he said.

Smear campaign will fail -MSSN

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Gombe State Area Unit, has said that campaign of calumny being carried out by fifth columnists and political jobbers against Pantami will fail.

In a statement jointly signed by Bilyaminu Abdullahi and Auwal Yahya Adamu, Amir and Secretary of Gombe Area Unit respectively, the MSSN said the minister is not an obscure person whose background is not known.

“The desperation of those behind the lies blindfolded them to the extent that they were ready to use anything they came about in order to launch their attack against him. Unfortunately for them, the very materials they used for their venomous attack on the Hon. Minister is the very materials that cleared his name.

“His attackers were too hasty to understand and verify the content and context of the materials. They just described him as having a friendly chat with the late Muhammad Yusuf in one of the audio/video clips,” the MSSN said.

By Abbas Jimoh; Alade Abiodun, Lagos; Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos; Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt

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