President Muhammadu Buhari’s communications minister Isa Pantami is under attack by Nigerians on social media after a recent report revealed the United States allegedly placed him under its terrorism watch list.
Although Pantami had denounced any allegiance to Boko Haram, another video showing him expressing support for the global extremist groups — the Taliban and Al-Qaeda has emerged.
“This jihad is an obligation for every single believer, especially in Nigeria, Oh God, give victory to the Taliban and to al-Qaeda (Allahumma’ nṣur Ṭālibān wa-tanẓīm al Qā‘ida),” Pantami said in one of his vicious preachings in the 2000s.
Despite Pantami’s threat to sue some media platforms for reporting that he is on the U.S. terror watchlist for supporting Boko Haram, Nigerians are still worried and have called for his resignation.
See tweets below:
Pantami is such a special son to Buhari, he was given the lee-way to change the Ministry of Communications to Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMoCDE) on the 17th of October, 2019. I really want to see how the #PantamiResign turns out.
— theonly1acre (@theonly1acre) April 16, 2021
This Pantami issue is far more serious than we treat it to be. I had this nightmare last night where Boko Haram had the data and location details of every single Nigerian, including the president. Pantami has to resign and answer the law. We’re in danger!! #PantamiResign
— Chukwumaobim (@MOMPERE55) April 16, 2021
He said ” I consider Osama Bin Laden a better muslim than myself”.
And you wonder if he won’t make a US watch list?
— GodblessNigeria (@GodblessTubure) April 16, 2021
To intimidate Supreme Court judges and subjugate the judiciary, Buhari used DSS to break into the homes of 6 judges across six states simultaneously at midnight; if Buhari was against Pantami’s beliefs and utterances, nobody needs to tell him what to do. #PantamiResign
— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) April 16, 2021
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
— Ayobami Ayobami (@dondekojo) April 16, 2021