Patami: Buhari has taken a stand for terrorism —Ezekwesili
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A former Minister of Finance, Dr. Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesili has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over the raging controversy involving his Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, saying that Buhari has taken a stand for terrorism.
It could be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu had in a statement published by ElombahNews, denounced what he termed as campaign of calumny against Dr. Patami.
In the statement titled “Statement by the presidency on recent campaign against the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy”, Malam Shehu condemned the “unfortunate” public discourse “made in the past… after [he had] later rejected them”.
He noted that “Pantami is currently, subject to a “cancel campaign” instigated by those who seek his removal.
“They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to “cancel” him,” he added.
According to him, the Minister has apologized for what he said in the early 2000s.
“The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them.
“But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.
“In the 2000s, the Minister was a man in his twenties; next year he will be 50. Time has passed, and people and their opinions – often rightly – change.”
He stressed that Patami…
- has been leading the charge against illegal data deductions and pricing;
- has revolutionized the government’s virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save taxpayers’ money;
- has established ICT start-up centres to boost youth entrepreneurship and create jobs; he has changed policy to ensure locally produced ICT content is used by ministries, starting with his own;
- and has deregistered some 9.2 million SIMs – ending the ability for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use mobile networks undetected.
“In two short years, Minister Pantami has driven the contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP to more than 18 percent, making it one of the top two playing a critical role in the emergence of the economy from the COVID 19-induced recession,” he remarked.
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He claimed that Patami has “made enemies… in the opposition who see success and want it halted by any means”, hence the attacks.
He also claimed that the government is now investigating the veracity behind these claims of attempted inducement and that “action must be expected”.
He concluded by saying that ‘Buhari’s Administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services.
Reacting to pledge of support accorded to Patami by Buhari and his Administration, Ezekwesili tweeted on her Twitter handle @obyezeks:
“In that singular act of siding with his Minister of Communication, @NGRPresident @MBuhari actually conveyed a message on his view of terrorism. Nigerians now know that his views align with that of his Minister. It is now left to Nigerians to convey whether we agree with them.
I do not agree with @NGRPresident @MBuhari and his Minister of Communication that any citizen can get away with such bloodcurdling rhetorics the latter made through the years. Worse that one who swore an oath to public office said and did the things @NigeriaGov has waved off.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) April 23, 2021
“I do not agree with @NGRPresident @MBuhari and his Minister of Communication that any citizen can get away with such bloodcurdling rhetorics the latter made through the years. Worse that one who swore an oath to public office said and did the things @NigeriaGov has waved off.
“Yesterday’s action by our President was an anti-climax. He has persisted in badly managing our country’s diversity. Nigeria cannot at this stage avoid a genuine conversation about its Future. The signs are all too obvious for all to see and act on.
“Citizens are the only legitimate center that can midwife credible dialogue. Citizens have to step up. Nigeria cannot at this stage avoid a genuine conversation about its future. The signs are all too obvious for all to see. The people of Nigeria are due for a Conversation.”
