Pantami only patronise Islamic TV for Federal government event – Ozekhome

In what looks like holding tenaciously to his ‘die-hard view’, the embattled Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami whose background is a source of concern to Nigerians have been accused of only patronising Islamic television for Federal Government events.

In a statement which he personally signed on Thursday and made to journalists in Abuja, human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has declared that Nigeria’s Ministry of ommumications and Digital Economy is too strategic for Isa Pantami to oversee.

The statement titled: ‘Isa Patami: The Leopard And Its Unchanging Spots’, Ozekhome maintained that the Minister’s renouncement of radical pro-Taliban hasn’t really changed him from being a “fanatic, fundamentalist and supporter of extremist Islamic sects”.

“Has he really changed? What has changed? Can a leopard ever change its spots? Ozekhome asked.

The Senior further disclosed that Pantami had last month contracted an Islamic TV to cover a Federal Government event.

He insisted that such a man should have resigned his appointment or got sacked if it were to be other saner climes.

“Lifting the veil off his purported transformation or assumed transfiguration is so easy when viewed against the background of his new acts even as Minister.

“Only recently, On March 22, 2021, Pantami’s Ministry hosted a virtual flag-off ceremony for a capacity development programme empowering 600 people with VSAT Installation Skills. Pantami himself was present and he even spoke at the event. It was a Virtual Flag-off Capacity Development Programme on VSAT Installation Skills and TVRO Systems for 600 youths by Pantami.

“The ceremony was not covered by AIT, Channels, NTA, TVC, ITV, or even FM Youtube channels. Rather, a very little-known Islamic TV channel called Al-Afrikiy was contracted to relay an event organized by a whole Federal Government of Nigeria. It must be borne in mind that Al-Afrikiy is not merely an Islamic-influenced learning TV station, it is also an Islam-only TV channel. It broadcasts strictly religious matters.”

He faulted President Buhari for nominating a pro-terrorists as Minister.

“By the way, where was the DSS (Department of State Services ) which was supposed to screen Pantami before his name was sent to the Senate? Why did it turn its focus away from these destructive extremist views of the very Minister in charge of Nigerians’ information data, with unabridged access to same, including NIM, BVN, biodatas, etc?

“What about our fawning rubber stamp “take-a-bow” Senate that was supposed to do a very thorough screening of Pantami? Why did it simply allow the Carmel to pass through the needle’s eye?

“When will it winnow out the chaff from the real wheat? Why has it turned a sacred duty on behalf of Nigerians into a “yes sir” party affair, which suggests that President Buhari can do no wrong, or make any mistake?” he queried.

“Isa Pantami should resign, as Mrs Kemi Adeosun, former Finance Minister, once did.

Where he fails to do this, Buhari should immediately relieve him of his ministerial position. His antecedents loudly proclaim him as a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s asphyxiatingly fragile unity, harmony and religious and ethnic tolerance.”