ABUJA– Saturday, 17 April 2021: Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has said he doesn’t have affiliation with any terror groups, adding that he employs more Christians than Muslims.

The Minister in an interview with Peoples Gazette on Friday revealed that his personal driver, secretary and technical adviser are Christians.

He noted that he wouldn’t have worked for so long with them if he is not a religious tolerance.

Patamin stated that “My personal driver is Mai Keffi, a practising Christian. I also have a Christian, Ms Nwosu, as my secretary and Dr Femi, also a Christian, as my technical adviser.

“If I did not like Christians or I did not see them as my brothers and sisters, I would not have been working with them for so long. I employed more Christians than Muslims on my staff because I believe in merit and competence over ethnic or tribal sentiments.

“I have never condoned terrorism and I reject any affiliation to terror groups. I have long preached peaceful coexistence amongst people of every faith and ethnicity.”

There have been agitations for the sacking of the Communication Minister by some Nigerians, alleging that he has a connection with terror groups.  

In a viral video recorded many years ago which was later confirmed by his lawyer, Michael Numa, the minister was seen engaging the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in a public debate.

Pantami, an Islamic scholar, according to Peoples Gazette, also once declared that he was always happy when infidels were massacred.

Peoples Gazette said Pantami’s comments were contained in three audio recordings of his teachings in the 2000s, when he took extreme positions in support of the brutal exploits of Al Qaeda and Taliban elements on a campaign to obliterate the West and conquer other parts of the world.