A former special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Assembly Matters, Abdurrahman Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, has described as vendetta the recent attacks on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.
In a press statement in Kano issued on Friday, Sumaila said those behind the purported comments on terrorist groups which were attributed to the minister were detractors, blackmailers and enemies of Nigeria.
The statement read in part, “I wonder why some people wanted to tarnish the image of a man who devoted his time, vast knowledge both Islamic and western for the overall development of Nigeria. Sheikh Pantami is among the few Islamic scholars that summoned the courage to engage the leader of the dreaded Boko Haram group, late Muhammad Yusuf, in a public debate. The video clip of this debate which went viral is still in circulation on YouTube and other social media platforms.
“After all, the minister has publicly denounced the comments and from the method of preaching one can clearly understand that the minister has nothing to do with any terrorist group here in Nigeria or outside the country. I want use this opportunity to condemn in a strong term those who are calling for the minister to step down from his position.
“Again, if the minister has any link to any terrorist group, he wouldn’t be allowed to study in both the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively. We all know how serious these two countries are taking issues of terrorism and other related security matters. So, for someone to accuse Sheikh Pantami of involvement in terrorism, I am sure that person must be joking.”
