Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on Thursday carpeted the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, saying he is not worthy of the ministerial appointment conferred on him.
The legal luminary in a statement titled, ‘Isa Pantami: The Leopard And Its Unchanging Spots’, said the minister is yet to change from promoting pro-Taliban comment despite his recent renouncement.
“Has he really changed? What has changed? Can a leopard ever change its spots? Ozekhome asked rhetorically.
Ozekhome said Pantami, last month contracted an Islamic TV to cover a Federal Government event.
He said, “In saner climes, Pantami should have resigned immediately without more. Or be sacked forthwith. 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 organised by the 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.”
Ozekhome also queried why President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Pantami for ministerial position in 2019.
“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 the 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 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 said.
“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 fragile unity, harmony and religious and ethnic tolerance,” Ozekhome added.