Nigerians have reacted to a statement issued by the Presidency in defence of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami over his support for terrorist organisations.
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Thursday, said that Pantami was “young” when he made statements supporting terrorism by Al-Qaeda, Taliban.
The statement read in part: “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, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami 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.”
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Reacting to the statement, some Twitter users knocked Garba and opined that former Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun also should have been pardoned for forging her National Youth Service Corps certificate instead of pressuring her to resign.
See more reactions below:
Is it the same Pantami that declared ‘Fatwa’ on our convener for writing a petition to the US government on Pantami’s link to Taliban and Al-qaeda that has changed according to Garba Shehu?
We are not buying this. #PantamiMustGo
— Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) April 22, 2021
Nigeria needs a referendum. This North and South coexistence is not working and cannot work. We can never reach a consensus on anything, everything to them is anti-north or anti-islam.
What kind of filthy and unfortunate mindset is that?#PantamiMustGo
— Ayemojubar ☣️ (@ayemojubar) April 22, 2021
Garba Shehu, you bloody LIAR. Pantami was 30yrs (an adult) when he made those incendiary remarks. It not only led to the death of Sunday Achi, it sparked the killing of Christians in Jos, Kaduna & most of the North. Your attempt at gaslighting is dead on arrival. #PantamiMustGo https://t.co/8nTJ9nX8ky
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) April 22, 2021
Garba Shehu LIED #Pantami was in his twenties when he made those incendiary remarks. But Pantami was 33yrs & 11 months (a bloody adult)
They’ll make Shekau minister someday. It will happen. Kemi Adeosun & Onnoghen didn’t kill nobody. Yet they were quickly removed. #PantamiMustGo
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) April 22, 2021
Buhari administration is a terrorist organisation and on this Pantami matter, the battle line has been drawn btw you and the people.#PantamiMustGo or you won't know peace till you do the needful. Tueh! https://t.co/3NAIhDRfW7
— Ayemojubar ☣️ (@ayemojubar) April 22, 2021
Should the President persist in its refusal to sack Pantami, he should be prepared for #EndSARS Part 2. We cannot be talking of a safe country when terrorists are the ones occupying political offices. His continued stay in office is a threat to national security. #PantamiMustGo
— FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) April 22, 2021
@GarShehu we know you’re just a servant boy to the Cabal. @KemiAdeosunng was of more value to the country’s progress but you let her go. Why the preferential treatment? #PantamiMustGo #PantamiResignNow #PantamiIsATerrorist
— Ladi Etti (@ladi_etti) April 22, 2021
Mallam Garbage Sheu came out to tweet in support of Mallam Pandemonium.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is supporting Terrorism with its chest.
This is unprecedented!#PantamiMustGo
— Mr Integrity (@Intergrity56) April 22, 2021
