PDP: Defending Pantami has exposed why Buhari failed to decisively confront insurgency

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the presidency’s support for Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, has revealed why the present administration’s war against terrorism hasn’t been completely successful.

Many Nigerians and groups have called for Pantami’s resignation or sack after videos from the 2000s resurfaced wherein the minister was seen supporting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Despite having recanted his past views on the terror groups, Nigerians have continued to demand his sack, arguing that he occupies a sensitive government position.

Reacting to the controversy, the presidency had said it stands with the minister, describing the controversy as a “cancel campaign” targeted at Pantami.

But in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, the party said Buhari is being insensitive to the result of actions and public comments by individuals like Pantami.

“Nigerians were traumatised that the Presidency could mount a hopeless defence and justification for the actions of the exposed Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who had already confessed to supporting terrorist groups like al-Qaida and Taliban,” the PDP said.

“It is instructive to note that this anti-people stance has heightened public anxiety that the Buhari Presidency is a haven for traitors who are providing support to acts of terrorist activities in our nation.

“Our party holds that this has further exposed why the Buhari Presidency has failed to decisively confront terrorism, as well as why terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and insurgents are emboldened to ravage our nation and massacre our compatriots.

“Our party notes that if indeed, the Buhari Presidency has not found itself entangled, the least it ought to have done in the face of allegations against Isa Pantami was to reassure Nigerians by first relieving Isa Pantami of his office and hand him over to the appropriate agency for deradicalisation.

“The PDP holds that Isa Pantami belongs to the deradicalisation centre and not in any way in the Federal Executive Council where he been alleged of compromising our national security as evinced in his initial denials.”

The PDP insisted that allegations that the minister had been compromising “our national data as well as the NIN registration exercise” must be investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS).

“As a party, the PDP charges President Muhammadu Buhari to reassure the citizens by immediately withdrawing the statement from his Presidency, relieve Isa Pantami of his position as minister and take a bold step to flush out terrorist apologists from the Presidency,” the party added.