By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has been the top trend on Twitter in Nigeria following reports alleging his sympathy for jihadists, especially Al-Qaeda, a group he once allegedly praised in the past for being better Muslims.
Only on Monday, April 12, Pantami forced multiple news websites with the threat of libel to delete a report claiming he was on the United States Terrorists Watch List. The FBI special attache at the U.S. consulate office in Nigeria who simply identified himself to PREMIUM TIMES as Meridez when the newspaper sought its comment, said he would neither confirm nor deny whether Pantami’s name was on the Terror Watch List of his country.
But another news website, Peoples Gazette, in a report on April 15, said that Pantami once endorsed killings of non-Muslims by jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Taliban. The newspaper cited three audio recordings of Pantami where he allegedly made those comments during his teachings in the 2000s.
Pantami, according to the report, supported the violent campaign of Al Qaeda and the Taliban whose mission was to destroy western civilization and return the world to 7th century Arabia.
Peoples Gazette also said Pantami did not return a request seeking comments from him whether he has renounced the violent disposition.
Following the revelation that Pantami had shown sympathy for terrorists in the past, Nigerians have been demanding the resignation of the minister who is in charge of the Communications and the Digital Economy. They said he may still harbour a similar tendency.
Nigerians have another worry. Pantami was the one who ordered the compulsory use of the National Identity number for telecommunications use in Nigeria. They are now worried about the possibility that their data being collected by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), an agency he supervises, could fall into the hands of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
@royaltyuso said: “Yes, #PantamiResign. But what if he leaves with all your data? You are still not safe! Access controls must be put in place immediately, and a full sweep of sensitive citizens data done to ensure they aren’t being cloned or backed up somewhere asides from where they should be.”
@MOMPERE55 said: “This Pantami issue is far more serious than we treat it to be. I had this nightmare last night where Boko Haram had the data and location details of every single Nigerian, including the president. Pantami has to resign and answer the law. We’re in danger!! #PantamiResign.”
@Ugonna37489321 said: “Pantami having access to NIN of all Nigerian citizens is the same thing as Osama bin laden having access to our homes especially the kitchen…..Pantami resignation is not an attack to the Arewa people. it’s a preventive measure to kill Osama bin ladin again.…”
Already, a civility society organisation – Concerned Citizens led by political activist, Deji Adeyanju, has petitioned the United States Consulate in Nigeria seeking for an investigation of the minister and placing him on a permanent U.S. Terror Watch List for expressing views in the past that the killings of non-believers by Al-Qaeda gave him joy.