Presidency defends Pantami, says enemies of govt behind smear campaign

The Presidency on Thursday rose in defence of the embattled Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, saying he had since apologised for his alleged past association with Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Some groups and individuals have called for his removal of his reported link with the terrorists in the past.

It also said the ‘cancel’ campaign against the minister was aimed at smearing his image despite the good work he was doing to improve the lives of everyday Nigerian in the last two years.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a release, said Pantami had atoned for what he said in the early 2000s, adding that 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.”

The statement also stated, “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.

“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 Presidency attributed the travail of Pantami to a “cancel campaign” instigated by those who seek his removal emphasising that those people “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 release also stated that the present administration was committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians which include ensuring they are not over-charged or under-protected for those services on which modern life depends.

It thereafter reeled out the sterling performance of Pantami since he assumed office as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in 2019.

Presidency also stated, “The minister has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing; he has revolutionised the government’s virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers’ money; he has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs; he has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own; and he has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs – ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected. In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession.

“In putting people first, the minister and this administration have made enemies. There are those in the opposition who see success and want it halted by any means. And there is now well-reported information that alleges newspaper editors rebuffed an attempt to financially induce them to run a smear campaign against the minister by some ICT companies, many of which do indeed stand to lose financially through lower prices and greater consumer protections. The government is now investigating the veracity behind these claims of attempted inducement, and – should they be found to hold credence – police and judicial action must be expected.

“The administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services.”