The Presidency on Thursday conceded that the views expressed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, endorsing some terrorist groups in the past are unacceptable but says it stands resolutely with him because of his work for Nigerians.
The Presidency’s position was contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu where it blamed the Minister’s travails on the opposition and some unnamed Information and Communication Technology companies.
It pointed out that the Minister had righty apologised for the statements he made years ago, which he cannot now repeat.
“The Administration stands behind Minister Pantami and all Nigerian citizens to ensure they receive fair treatment, fair prices, and fair protection in ICT services,” the statement said.
The Presidency noted what it said was an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past – no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them.
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The statement adds that “This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on the basis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.
“The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim 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. But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.
“The Minister has, rightly, apologised 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.”
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
