Headline

Will Buhari Sack Isa Pantami?

Published

5 years ago

April 24, 2021

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The last has definitely not been heard about the controversies surrounding the embattled Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and his undeniable link to notorious terrorist organisations, notable among them the dreaded Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Nigerians are worried that a man of Pantami’s calibre, who as head of the communications ministry, oversees agencies, and is responsible for databases of Nigerians and expatriates in the country, should have a kind of kind with dreaded terrorist groups. They complain that such affiliations are tantamount to security breaches, and the consequence can be untold.

With his unhindered and unrestricted access to the data base of the nation, some people have expressed fears that the minister can sympathetically sell out to the Islamist militant groups in more ways than one, and this could be nipped in the bud with his sack. But with a picture of President Buhari and Pantami together at a hajj ceremony, that may not be possible in the near future.

Reports also have it that the Minister also oversees the web infrastructure for most government ministries and agencies, armed forces, intelligence agencies, and Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure that provides communications and navigation support for the air force. In fact, the powers of the minister are huge and quite intimidating. It is therefore believed that a man with such encompassing responsibilities can be trustworthy, honest, full of integrity and able to live above board. A lot of Nigerians don’t think of that for Pantami as a result of the document extremist views he held in the past.

Though his so called sins are in the past, Nigerians say that like a leopard, Pantami is not likely to change his spots, especially with a avalanche of defence coming from his supporters, colleagues, and wait for this – the Federal Government of Nigeria! The say his apology is enough proof that he is a changed man.

This has given rise to the question if President Muhammadu Buhari will have the gut to sack him from the federal cabinet as being canvassed by a cross section of the Nigerian public.

Recall that in the near past, streams of video and documented evidence of the views Pantami held in the past had flooded the media space, portraying him as a diehard believer in the elimination of ‘unbelievers’ by notorious extremist groups such as Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Some of the documents are “purportedly from a 2010 meeting he chaired at the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), a top Islamic body, where it was agreed that Christians should be prohibited from building churches in city centres across northern Nigeria, which has a majority Muslim population although millions of Christians also live there.

“Audio and video recordings have also emerged of Mr Pantami’s fiery prayers and sermons at different stages of his career as an imam. In one sermon he volunteered to lead a force of the Sharia police, Hisbah, to Shendam in Plateau state, where there had been a deadly religious conflict, to fight in defence of the Muslims,” says a BBC report.

It was also reported that in a 2006 speech, Mr Pantami publicly offered his condolences after the death of al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

In an audio clip, where he talks about the Nigerian army’s war against Boko Haram, he appears to be on the verge of tears as he passionately describes the militants as “our Muslim brothers” who did not deserve to be “killed like pigs”. Many believe that there is no way such a person will allow the war against Boko Haram, most of whose members are muslims, be decided in favour of the Federal Government. Consequently, the fears that he is sabotaging efforts of the security forces by his privileged position as the head of communications and database custodian of the nation, is rife among not a few Nigerians.

The same Pantami, who though has claimed repentance, also said in another audio recording, that he is always happy when infidels are massacred. Though he initially denied his involvement with the deadly groups, he did not deny the authenticity and veracity of the texts, audio and video clips.

Most of Pantami’s antecedents tell of tales of Islamic extremism. One was told about his time at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University where he, as cleric of a local mosque, was accused of instigating the gruesome murder of a Christian student leader whose crime was only distribute tracts and preached on the campus. It was also said that he was thrown out of the university for his extreme views. He denied these accusations and also said that he was never dismissed from the university.

While Nigerians patiently waited for the reaction of the Buhari-led Federal Government, most organisations across political, religious and social settings have led their voices in condemnation of the 48 years old minister, asking for his outright sack and prosecution. Some including Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome and Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, have written essays expressing their displeasure and the urgent need for Buhari to relieve him of his duties.

Even the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has added their voices to the call for his removalbut to no avail. They party even attempted to raise the matter in the upper house, but it was rebuffed ruling party members, who are in the majority. There seems to be a defensive shield from the powers that be for the Minister.

But finally, the executive reaction Nigerians had been waiting for came, and it came via a presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, who speaks for President Buhari. In a nutshell, he said without equivocation that the administration of President Buhari “stands behind Minister Pantami.” He went ahead to accuse enemies of the government for the minister’s travails, saying that the minister’s apology should calm every nerve.

“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,” he said in a statement which he also shared on his Twitter account:

“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.”

The presidential aide blamed those calling for Pantami’s removal as the problems of this country.

He said: “I am saying to you that people who stand in criticism of this position of the man who said he had wronged himself, he had wronged the society, and has apologised that he has changed, and they are not willing to forgive to move on; they are the ones who are the problem.”

He continued: “In all our lives, we change and transform … we don’t remain in the same position. The people just assume that he cannot change; if the One who created you gives it to you that from being bad, you can become good, what tells you to deny some other persons this right?

“They are the ones who are deeply intolerant, and who are telling the world that in this country, we have the set of people who don’t forgive, who don’t want to move on; they are the problem of the society.”

He went further to absolve Pantami over former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, saying the ex-finister ministers crimes were more grievous that Pantami’s.

But critics have pointed out that the minister was already in his 30s when most of his controversial statements were made and so, was fully aware of the ramifications.

But reacting to the appointment of Pantami from the onset, on why the security agencies did not do due diligence, a former Director of the Department of State Security, Mr Amachree noted that the government of President Buhari was aware of the status of the minister, who started his education as an almajiri. He confided that his appointment was politically motivated, more like to balance a political equation. It is worthy of note that Pantami, a former director-general with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is the only member of the Federal Executive Council from Gombe State.

While noting that Pantami should resign because it is difficult to deradicalise someone of his kind, the former DSS director said that information on all individuals of interest, including the minister’s past extremist views were communicated to the Federal Government and the legislature.

“There is no information that escapes the DSS. We have all of it, all. When I was working there, we keep a catalogue of anybody of interest that comes up to the limelight in this country.

“During the vetting process for anybody to be appointed a minister or commissioner or anything, your name is sent to the DSS for vetting. They check your background up to the extent of your grandmother.

“They check your schools up to the extent of your primary school. And of course, they keep a tab on you online and offline. We get a lot from open-source intelligence and I can tell you that in Pantami’s case, we have it.

“But there is a political angle to it. When somebody is being appointed, if the security agencies see that there is something wrong with his name, they will send it to the appointing agency,” Amachree said.

It is not hard to imagine that with the barrage of supports flowing from the seat of power to Pantami, it will be like forever before the desire of Nigerians to see the minister’s exit from the cabinet materialises.

The accusations trailing President Buhari as practicing nepotism in his administration may really be a stumbling block in the call for the removal of the repented lover of terrorist.

It is a waiting game, and the time begins now!

Headline

Insecurity: Akpabio Begs Tinubu to Reinstate Police Orderlies for NASS Members

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Eric

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the directive withdrawing police orderlies from members of the National Assembly, citing safety concerns.

Akpabio made the appeal during the presentation of the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, by President Tinubu, warning that some lawmakers fear they might be unable to return home safely following the withdrawal.

His said: “As we direct the security agencies to withdraw policemen from critical areas, some of the National Assembly said I should let you know they may not be able to go home today.

“On that note, we plead with Mr. President for a review of the decision.”

President Tinubu, on November 23, ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties across the country.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu issued the directive after a security meeting with Service Chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) following heightened security issues in the country.

Under the order, VIPs requiring security are to seek protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as the Federal government seeks to boost police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas grappling with insecurity.

Tinubu later reaffirmed the directive on December 10, moments before presiding over the Federal Executive Council, expressing frustration over delays in implementation.

He instructed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Civil Defence Corps to immediately replace withdrawn escorts to avoid exposing individuals to danger.

“I honestly believe in what I said…It should be effected. If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu said.

“The minister of interior should liaise IG and the Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties.

“So that you don’t leave people exposed,” he said.

Headline

Defence Gulps Lion Share As Tinubu Presents N58.47trn 2026 Budget to NASS

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has presented a budget of N58.47 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, with capital recurrent (non‑debt) expenditure standing at N15.25 trillion.

Tinubu presented the budget on Friday, pegging the capital expenditure at N26.08 trillion and putting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.

He said the expected total revenue is N34.33 trillion, projected total expenditure: N58.18 trillion, including N15.52 trillion for debt servicing. The budget is N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28% of GDP.

The budget was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.

In terms of sectoral allocation, defence and security took the lion’s share with N 5.41 trillion, followed by infrastructure at N3.56 trillion.

Headline

Mike Adenuga, Emmanuel Macron Hold High-Powered Meeting in Paris

Published

3 days ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Accomplished billionaire businessman and Commander of the French Légion d’Honneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, CdrLH, has held a private meeting with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The two powerful citizens of the world held the meeting on Wednesday at the historic Élysée Palace in Paris.

The high-level engagement underscores the longstanding relationship between Dr. Adenuga and the French Republic, as well as his continued relevance in global business and diplomatic circles.

A respected industrialist and philanthropist, Adenuga has been widely acknowledged for his contributions to economic development, telecommunications, energy, and humanitarian causes across Africa and beyond.

The meeting adds to Dr. Adenuga’s growing profile as a bridge between African enterprise and international leadership.