National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), umbrella body of Nigerian telecom subscribers, yesterday called Dr. Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, to step down in spite of the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number-Subscriber Identity Module linkage, and being one of the best performing ministers of the federal government.
Calls for Pantami’s resignation have been growing over extreme Islamist views he allegedly held in the past recently came to light.
Pantami, a renowned Muslim cleric, was accused of expressing views sympathetic to groups such as al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.
The minister attempted to renounce his past views at the weekend, telling a local newspaper that some of the comments were based on his “understanding of religious issues at the time” and that he has changed several positions “based on new evidence and maturity”.
But that has not stopped calls for his sacking or resignation with Adeolu Ogunbanjo, president, NATCOMS, admonishing Pantami to step down and be investigated.
NATCOMS, however appreciated the minister for extending the deadline for National Identity Number-Subscriber Identity Module linkage.
Ogunbanjo said it was necessary for the minister to resign just as Kemi Adeosun, former finance minister, had done after she was accused of forging her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate.
Ogunbanjo said, “For now, he should step aside just like Adeosun did and allow investigation to continue. If he is cleared, he can come back as minister.
“We appreciate him for extending the deadline, but he has a moral obligation to resign so investigation can be devoid of partiality. He should do the honourable thing and be investigated.”
