#PantamiResign: Nigeria Comms Minister Accused of Being a ‘Terrorist Apologist’

Isa Pantami

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami has been under fire over the past few days from citizens on social media platform Twitter for allegedly sympathising with terrorist groups.

Thousands of Nigerians on Twitter believe the country’s minister Pantami, who they say sympathised with terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, cannot be trusted with the data of citizens, especially with the ongoing National Identification Number and Subscriber Identity Module integration exercise under his watch.

In a video that has since gone viral and recorded many years ago, the minister was seen engaging the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in a public debate. The video has also been confirmed by Pantami’s lawyer, Michael Numa.

The hashtag #PantamiResign has since been trending on Twitter having more than 32,000 tweets as of the time of this report.

Some of the tweets that were shared read:

Ayobami Ayobami
@dondekojo
Fact that a lot of moderates are quiet or defending Pantami after initially claiming Islamophobia may just prove the point that some terrorists enjoy protection from moderates. It’s been shameful to watch. Everybody must now demand his resignation #PantamiResign

Olúyẹmí Fásípè (Ìgbàlódé Pastor)
@YemieFASH
A terrorist apologist is not worthy of being a government official. #PantamiResign

Concerned Nigerians
@ConcernedNIG
What are we demanding? #PantamiResign now!!!!

Somto Onuchukwu
@chosensomto
I will not join you people and have that “it was in the past” conversation, because it’s same as arguing “if a repented Boko Haram member can become a minister?”
Terrorism is not a drinking habit you drop in the past; Pantami should resign immediately. #PantamiResign

Sir. Ariyo-Dare Atoye
@AriyoAristotle
From the revelations in the media, Minister Pantami is a security and a threat to National Security. If Gen. Buhari is unwilling to sack him; we owe Nigeria a duty to make all our foreign, regional & development partners excommunicate or avoid Isa Ali Pantami. #PantamiResign

PDP Vanguard
@PDPVanguard
@OfficialAPCNg and terrorism are 5&6. #PantamiResign

By Abel Ejikeme