There is ongoing pressure on the federal government of Nigeria to get the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Alhaji Isa Pantami too boot him out of office or get him to resign. Arguments are still raging on in this matter for or against his sack or resignation even after the FGN has taken a position to keep him.
Recall that the minister in a charge of terrorism has confessed his extremist past which he claimed was done out of youthful exuberance adding that he has since repented of this dirty past. Many are still not convinced that he is truly repented of his extremist views which promoted killings of people who share different faiths from his.
There is this unsettling suspicion that the minister who is an acclaimed digital expert and in charge of the National Identity program may be using the data for some terrorist activities hence the deafening outcry for him to throw in the towel.
It is not in doubt that the government has been mouthing its strong opposition against any form of terrorism in the country. The country is already fully terrorized. As part of its efforts to fight the scourge the federal government few years ago slammed the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) with a terrorist tag even at a time it was not involved in arms.
The federal government’s claims to fight terrorism have been in the realm of doubt and double speak as its actions do not allude to it in any way serious. The Fulani herdsmen have been terrorizing the nation greatly operating with impunity without any action of the government to stop them. They have wrecked so much havoc taking lives and properties. The government appears helpless to halt the carnage.
The Boko Haram group is globally rated terrorist groups which damage to the nation’s economy are unquantifiable. While it holds sway, many government officials at one time or another have been fingered as supporting or promoting its activities. The granting of amnesty to the so called repentant Boko Haram fighters who are also absorbed in the military is suspected to have elongated the fight against the group.
It would be recalled that once they named the President Muhammadu Buhari to stand in for them when a past government sought to negotiate peace with them. That singular action alone attracted so much curiosity against PMB raising fears if he has no hand in their activities. These and more casts doubts on government sincerity to fight terrorism scourge.
That a federal appointee in the rank of minister with terrorist tendencies either now or in the past could be in the administration of PMB makes nonsense of his avowed claim to detest terrorism. News Echo wishes to advise the FGN to come clean of the strong suspicion hanging over its head by doing the needful.
The minster if he is worth the honour should resign from the position or be given the boot. The government should have zero tolerance and keep at arm length anyone or anything linking it with terrorism disposition. The government needs to further demonstrate her sincerity in the fight. Its body language so far is speaking different from its intention.
