FLASHBACK: ‘Who Are The Taliban?’ — Pantami’s Lecture In Favour Of Afghanistan’s Terror Group
On September 12, 2006, at the age of 34, Imam Isa Pantami gave a public lecture in Bauchi titled, “Who are the Taliban?” When the sermon was recently resurrected, it nearly wrecked Pantami’s reputation as Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Technology.
The lecture was dubbed “incendiary” by critics, and Nigerians sought the Minister’s resignation due to his past clear allegiance and devotion to the Taliban, an Islamic militant organisation based in Afghanistan.
The Taliban took Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, on Sunday, putting an end to Ashraf Ghani’s democratic presidency.
Observers and diplomats are concerned about the impact of the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan on African countries, particularly Nigeria. Their apprehension stems from Boko Haram’s involvement with the worldwide terrorist organization.
Pantami, a serving minister, is rumored to be affiliated with the organisation, which raises fears about the country’s prospective Islamization.
After serving as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Pantami was named as a minister at the start of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in 2019.
A Cleric Under Fire
In the controversial Pantami’s sermon, he praised the Taliban in glowing terms, saying they were under “trials from Allah” and dealing with infidels from the Western world who wished to destroy their “good image”.
“A very important thought that came into my mind is that what our brethren-Al Sunnah (Salafists) want to know is how the Taliban who lived in Afghanistan were subjected to trials from Allah on this earth and how they’re subjected to a test of faith and love,” Pantami said.
“There are a group of infidels from the Western world, who don’t have any other target in this life except to destroy the good image of the Taliban in the eyes of their Muslim brethren and to destroy the Taliban’s image even in the eyes of the infidels themselves, by means of accusing the Taliban of deeds which were not committed by them.”
He also condemned the United States’ support for Afghanistan against the insurgents terrorising the country.
He said: “Under the pretext of promoting peace, the USA invaded Afghanistan. Their entry into the country was characterised by their support for one group against the other.
“Right now, if Allah were to bring a test of faith on Nigeria, who do you think would be the first to invade Nigeria? America! If they invaded, who do you think they would support? Muslims or Infidels? Infidels! This is exactly how they seek to operate.”
The Game Of Denial
Social media users accused the minister of condoning terrorism by expressing affection and appreciation for Osama Bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda, and Mullah Omar, the founder of the Taliban Islamist organisation, using the hashtag #PantamiResign.
He refuted the allegations, claiming that he was being set up by forces opposed to the Federal Government’s program of requiring all Nigerians to register for a National Identity Number (NIN).
