By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Presidency on Thursday stoutly defendend the embattled Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, over allegations that he has sympathy for terrorists and terrorism.
The Minister has been under intense scrutiny over comments he made in the mid and late2000s supporting jihad and terrorist groups like Al-Qeada, Taliban and Boko Haram.
But in a series of tweets late on Thursday, media aide to president Muhammadu Buhari said Pantami was a victim of those his good works as minister was affecting adversely.
Meanwhile, Nigerians joined issues with him insisting that Pantami was guilty as charged.
Shehu wrote: “Today, there is an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past – no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them.
“This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on the basis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.
“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, @DrIsaPantami is, currently, subject to a “cancel campaign” instigated by those who seek his removal. They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to “cancel” him. But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.
“The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s. The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them. But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.
“In the 2000s, the Minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50. Time has passed, and people and their opinions – often rightly – change. But all discerning Nigerians know this manufactured dispute is nothing to do with the Minister’s prior words, but solely concern his actions in the present.”
Shehu insisted that the minister’s woes has to do with the work he is doing for public good.
“This Administration is committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians – and that includes ensuring they are not over-charged or under-protected for those services on which modern life depends. The Minister has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing; he has revolutionized the government’s virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers’ money; he has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs; he has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own; and he has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs – ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected.
“In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession.”
But many Nigerians who responded disagreed with the presidency.
BidanFidelisBashi@bashi_bidanwrote, “Are you saying, the young people can also say things like these and then in the future, they will now defend themselves by saying that they were young when they said it when they turn fifty. Do you know how many people have lost their lives bcoz of what he said in 2000s? Mr. Shehu, in case you don’t know what that man did, it is called treason…. supporting a terrorist group is an act of treason and pantami shld nt only be sacked but prosecuted.”
OLUWATAYO@TheOluwatayo said, “Yesterday Kemi Adeosun was told to resign because of Certificate Forgery, why can’t you allow her to apply for another one and get it, instead of advising her to Resign then? He Who Comes to Equity must Come With Clean Hands.”
Alfred Nnamdi@biggie042· “Presidential spokesman speaking for a minister who was threatening court action just last week. Who is advising you guys?”
Uncle Wilsøn™@iam_wilsons “If you want to get angry just listen to: 1 Lai Mohammed 2 Femi Adesina 3 Garba Shehu 4 Lauretta Onochie.”
But Charles@AtubuCharles wrote “If you are not OK with @DrIsaPantami then you can go and hug transformer. @DrIsaPantami must stay and you all must link your SIM cards to NIN and the heavens will not fall!
Nigerian@Mark_Oluwole·“The Nigerian law prescribes punishment for whoever counsels others to commit crime. And this has no expiry. Twenty years ago does not matter. Double standards!”
