14th April, 2021
PRESS RELEASE :
IT IS FAKE NEWS: MURIC DEBUNKS
PANTAMI/TERRORISM LINK
Some Nigerian newspapers
yesterday published reports that the Minister of Communications and Digital
Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is on the watchlist of the United States. However,
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has described
the report as fake news.
MURIC’s reaction was
contained in a press release issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola,
on Wednesday, 14th April, 2021.
The statement reads:
“Our attention has been
drawn to a trending report that Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Minister of
Communications and Digital Economy is on the United State’s watchlist for
having links with terrorists.
“It is fake news. It
is a lie from the pit of jahannam. It is a product of malice, envy and evil
desire concocted in
the laboratory of the notorious ‘pull him down’ (PhD) syndrome. It exists only
in the imagination of the authors of the evil plan. It will not stand the test
of authenticity.
“Pantami is a honest, dilligent and uncommon Islamic
scholar whose ability to combine his discipline with digital expertise has
raised him above his peers and made him an indispensable asset to this country.
It is only people with diseased minds who do not want progress for Nigeria that
can make such malicious yet false allegation against him.
“We have been reading Pantami’s articles and
watching his lecture videos long before he became minister and on no occasion
did he pour encomiums on terrorists or their aides. On the contrary, he always
condemned violence and terrorism. Therefore, those who claim that Pantami ‘spoke
glowingly’ of associates of terrorist leaders are apostles of Lucifer and
pathological liars.
“In fact,
Dr. Pantami removed the rug from under the feet of Yusuf, the erstwhile leader
of Boko Haram. This he did in several debates during his days as a university
lecturer and those video tapes are still available for all to watch.
“We believe that Pantami’s detractors are after
something else, otherwise the threat issued by Shekau, the current leader of
Boko Haram (https://dailynigerian.com/in-new-video-shekau-threatens-isa-pantami-bulama-bukarti/)
against the person of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami would have been enough to
dissuade them from embarking on this futile attempt at damaging the reputation of
a great scholar and a patriot nulli secundus.
“Shekau’s threat against Pantami was made openly in
a video clip on 13th February, 2021 (just two months ago) and it was
public knowledge at the time. It prompted the Nigerian authorities and friends
of the minister to urge him to take adequate security measures around his
person and family members. Is it not paradoxical that the same Pantami whom
terrorists threatened to kill is now being accused of being a sponsor and ally
of terrorism? It is highly illogical.
“We strongly suspect that those behind the fake
news are jittery over the minister’s revolutionary ideas particularly the
ongoing linkage of the NIN with SIM cards. This development is believed to be
giving criminals sleepless nights as it is capable of exposing their
identities. This fake news is therefore an attempt to blackmail him into
stopping the revolutionary linkage of the NIN to the SIM. Nevertheless,
the fact that the United States embassy has dissociated itself from the
allegation thereby giving the minister a clean bill of health is didactic and reassuring.
“MURIC is constrained to
react to the fake story not only because of our deep commitment to upholding
the truth and defending the innocent, but also because we have also been
victims of such malicious and damaging false allegation in the past.
“We recall the false
accusation against us that our director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, collected
$200,000 from ISWAP and Boko Haram (https://abtc.ng/revealed-muric-receiving-funds-from-iswap,-says-mali-intelligence-chief/).
Those behind the allegation could not substantiate it and nothing was heard of
them again. We knew at the time that it was an attempt to blackmail us into
silence but we refused to be silenced by men of evil. We denied the allegation
and we forged ahead with the protection, promotion and projection of
Allah-given and fundamental rights of innocent Nigerians.
“We therefore advise
Dr. Pantami to ignore his detractors and continue the good work which he is
doing for the country. Nigerians are proud of him. Nigerians are praying for
him. Nigerians repose their full confidence in him. MURIC is solidly behind him
in his efforts to digitalise the economy and rid Nigeria of criminals and
unscrupulous elements.
“We invite the minister to
ponder over the words of the messengers of Allah to Lut, ‘And when our
messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and he felt powerless.
But we said, “Fear not, nor grieve. We shall save thee and your followers …’
(Qur’an 29:33). Again Allah assures those who believe in Him, ‘Do not lose
heart, nor fall into despair, for you shall be victorious as long as you have
faith in Allah’ (Qur’an 3:139).”
“We urge the Fourth Estate
of the realm to demonstrate full professionalism when carrying out their
duties. There is no excuse whatsoever for defamatory reports that cannot be
backed with evidence. Facts are sacred and they must be investigated with
microscopic accuracy. Journalists should not allow themselves to be used by selfish
and callous individuals for their personal gains.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC)
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