FEC Didn’t Discuss Pantami’s Controversy Says Lai Mohammed as Elder Statesman Defends Minister

FEC Didn’t Discuss Pantami’s Controversy Says Lai Mohammed as Elder Statesman Defends Minister

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting closed on Wednesday without discussing the controversies surrounding the continued stay in the office of Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Ali Isa Pantami.

Different groups had in the last few days called for Pantami’s sack or resignation, while another believed that he has done nothing wrong hence he can continue with the task ahead of him.

Pantami has been in storming water over his alleged past positions on activities of extremist groups, Al-Qaeda and Taliban, which he was reported to have approved and commended.

Shortly after the weekly FEC meeting, State House Correspondents asked the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, if the FEC discussed the brewing crisis on Pantami’s case, especially as demands had been made by the public.

He was asked whether the council discussed the matter and if the government was comfortable with its burden on its image.

“I’m not going to go into the issue of whether the government is comfortable or not. I will answer your question directly. It was not discussed at the council meeting, said Lai Mohammed.

Meanwhile, elder statesman, Tanko Yakassai, has risen in defence of Isa- Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy as some Nigerians insisted on his resignation over his past sermons on Boko Haram and Osama bin Laden.

The Second Republic politician said in Kano on Tuesday that the minister’s public apology and expression of regret over his past religious utterances was a enough atonement .

In a series of reports, complete with audio-graphic accomplishments, Peoples Gazzette had unearthed a number of Islamic sermons delivered years ago by Isa- Ali Ibrahim Pantami, which indicated sympathy for Osama bin laden and defended Boko Haram sect.

Speaking with reporters in Kano, however, Yakassai insisted that those who were pushing for his resignation were not coming out clean to Nigerians adding that, “I think that his public apology should be enough”

“The people who are bent on pursuing him up to this moment, even after he had apologized for these remarks are certainly engaged in the pursuit of something else …..Maybe a witch hunt” he stated.

“When someone admits to his mistake and in addition to that, apologies for that mistake, I think that that should be enough… What is expected of him, that is to own up to his mistake and to apologize, has been done publicly.” he stated.

“If he resigns, does it change any thing? Would his resignation change what he said and uttered in the past. Every religion accepts apology and repentance” Yakassai noted while adding that, “Everyone of us must have made a mistake while we were growing up”.

Yakassai argued that if everyone was to be held responsible for his past mistakes, then none is guiltless, saying that as people grow up, they gain new insights about life, refine their life-ways and discard some of their old beliefs and positions.

Yakassai said he was convinced that Pantami had truly repented from his past sympathies while adding that those who were still doubtful of his transfiguration would have to wait to see if he still held those positions or would go back them, before they could charge at him.

He encouraged Nigerians, especially young persons, to be mindful of their public utterances so as not be hunted by these remarks in the future.