Ex-DSS Official Explains why Pantami Sailed Through Secret Police Screening
- More details are coming out concerning the controversy surrounding Dr Isa Pantami
- The minister of communications and digital economy has been in the spotlight in the past few weeks
- A former official of the DSS has provided an intelligent analysis of the situation especially as it concerns the secret police
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Dennis Amachree, a former assistant director with the Department of State Security, DSS, has revealed that the past extremists' views of Dr. Isa Pantami must have been known to the secret police.
Pantami, Nigeria's minister of communications and digital economy, has been under pressure to resign after his past comments supporting international terror groups, resurfaced.
Amachree made the comment on Wednesday, April 21 while speaking to The Punch in an interview.
Source: Twitter
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The ex-DSS director further said the United States government was already gathering information on Pantami.
His words:
“He (Pantami) has just submitted his name into US database. Now, people are talking about him and that has come to the attention of the United States Embassy in Nigeria already.
“Now, they will do a deeper dive into his background. They will catalogue him and now they will start watching him and if it comes to a very critical level, they will place him on a no-fly zone.”
In a related development, David Hundeyin, a freelance journalist, whose report made the Pantami's extremist views public, said the minister's stance on extremism has not changed.
Speaking to Channels TV, he said:
“Pantami has not changed, the ministry of communications contracted an Islamic TV channel to stream an event by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Some Nigerians have been reacting to the stance of the ex-DSS official on the issue.
Levi Ayelabowo Egbayelo wrote on Twitter:
“The federal government can't claim ignorance of Pantanmi's past extremist views and retaining him in such a sensitive office of communications and data at this point. It means some people in government are benefiting from the proceeds of crime.”
Ajiji Ishaya wrote:
“So much for a government that says it's fighting extremism. I'm grossly disappointed.”
Aleegbe Orhewere wrote:
“Surely, Nigeria has citizens far more technically sound and digitally literate than a self-confessed terrorism sympathizer and this presents such huge moral liability to both the Nigerian government and the Buhari administration that drove its political campaign on combating insecurity and terror!”
Ezidinma Odigwe wrote:
“This regime is a disaster. Thanks to the rubber-stamp Senate for approving everything their master wants. God help Nigeria.”
Recall that a civil society group convened by Comrade Deji Adeyanju, Concerned Nigerians, on Monday, April 19 urged the DSS to recommend the sacking of Pantami to President Buhari.
In a letter addressed to the director-general of the DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Adeyanju stated that it is a security risk to allow Pantami to remain in office.
Similarly, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, has urged relevant security agencies to investigate the recent allegations against the minister.
Speaking during a press conference at the Baptist International Conference Centre on Tuesday, April 20, Reverend Ayokunle advised security agencies to act on the matter.
Source: Legit.ng
