Reps Minority Leader Elumelu raises motion for Pantami’s sack

Following reports linking embattled Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami to international terror groups, Al-Qaeda and Taliban, calls for his removal has dominated the news cycle.

Adding his voice to these calls is the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu as he raised a motion at Plenary titled, “A Call To Investigate Sheik Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister Of Communication And Digital Economy’s Link To Terrorist Groups – A Potential Threat To National Security.”

He said Pantami does not qualify to oversee the Ministry of Communications which controls the database of Nigerians.

The lawmaker highlighted Sheik Pantami’s past controversial comments suggesting religious extremism. He said that the Minister's past and comments should not be overlooked citing the sensitive position he holds in the government.

“Further note that there have been repeated insinuations that Sheik Ali Ibrahim Isa Pantami has direct links and personally subscribes to the extreme Islamic beliefs of Al Queada, Taliban, and Boko Haram sects.

“Aware that there are compelling evidence in cyberspace to buttress and lend strong credence to a relationship and existing mutual collaboration between Sheik Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami and the deceased Yemeni terrorist, Al Barnawi, a mentor to the Nigerian born Christmas day bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

“Further aware that the Honourable minister while answering questions during his daily Ramadan lecture at Annor mosque a few days back, owned up to the fact that he took extreme positions in support of the brutal exploits of Al Qaeda and the Taliban out of ignorance.

“Concerned, that these allegations and relevant evidence in the cyber space and other informative platforms have been overlooked and glossed over by relevant authorities, thereby refusing to take appropriate security measures in examining the strands of facts and its implication on national security.

“For over ten years, the insurgency in the north east has cost Nigeria military high casualty level, moral depletion amongst its personnel, billions of dollars in financial resources, huge human and material displacement, culminating in high level of unemployment amongst the populace of that region.

“There have been instances in the recent past where top government officials have been complicit and acted as moles at divulging government strategy to the insurgents without traces, and some openly lend financial support to the insurgency in the northeast.

“Worried that if these allegations are allowed to wear away without proper investigation and taking necessary actions, this may be the beginning of an end to our great country Nigeria,” Elumelu stated in his motion.

The Minority Leader, therefore, prayed the House to mandate its Committee on National security to investigate the matter and report back in 4 weeks, while in the same vein urged the minister to honorably step aside to give room for an unfettered investigation.