Al-Qaeda: Why President Buhari Will Not Sack Pantami — Source

President Muhammadu Buhari would not fire Communications Minister Isa Ali Pantami because of remarks he made years ago about Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

After the president criticized critics of the Buhari administration on Thursday night, a source close to the federal government spoke to the DAILY POST.

Despite the audio and video tapes on the internet, he claims that even if Pantami wishes to resign, Nigeria’s leader will not allow him to do so.

“I can assure you that Pantami will not be fired by the President. He holds this stance because he feels that any assault on his appointee is an attack on him.

“He is not someone who would remove someone just because others demand it. How many people has he fired on the basis of complaints after he became president?

“It’s over until he decides to collaborate with you. He won’t suggest that the minister should pack his belongings and leave the government because of a protest or campaign.”

According to a statement by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, the source referred Nigerians to Pantami’s accomplishments.

All of the factors mentioned, he said, are reasons why the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is under “funded attacks.”

Shehu, in a statement that was entirely supportive of Pantami, claimed that he had already apologised and should not be punished.

Shehu said that some powers were enraged by the government’s use of a virtual public engagement to respond to COVID-19 and save money for taxpayers.

The presidency praised Pantami for establishing ICT start-up centers to encourage youth entrepreneurship and job creation, as well as a policy requiring ministries to use locally generated ICT material and the deregistration of 9.2 million SIM cards.

According to him, the ICT sector contributed more than 18% of GDP under Pantami, giving Nigeria a boost as it recovers from the COVID 19-induced recession.