Read Presidency's Statement On Campaign Against Communications Minister - Isa Pantami

 

Today, there is an unfortunate fashion in public discourse that makes leaders in politics, religion, and civil society liable in the present for every statement they have ever made in the past – no matter how long ago, and even after they have later rejected them. This insidious phenomenon seeks to cancel the careers of others on the basis of a thing they have said, regardless of when they said it.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is, currently, subject to a “cancel campaign” instigated by those who seek his removal. They do not really care what he may or may not have said some 20 years ago: that is merely the instrument they are using to attempt to “cancel” him. But they will profit should he be stopped from making decisions that improve the lives of everyday Nigerians.

The Minister has, rightly, apologized for what he stated inside the early 2000s. The views were actually unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, had been he to copy them. But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.

In the 2000s, the Minister became a person in his twenties; subsequent 12 months he will be 50. Time has handed, and those and their critiques – frequently rightly – change.

But all discerning Nigerians recognise this manufactured dispute is nothing to do with the Minister’s earlier phrases, but solely problem his movements in the gift.

This Administration is committed to improving the lives of all Nigerians – and that includes ensuring they may be now not over-charged or under-protected for the ones services on which present day lifestyles depends.

The Minister has been main the price against unlawful records deductions and pricing; he has revolutionized the authorities’s virtual public engagement to reply to COVID-19 and shop taxpayers’ cash; he has set up ICT begin-up centres to reinforce youngsters entrepreneurship and create jobs; he has changed policy to make sure locally produced ICT content material is used by ministries, beginning with his very own; and he has deregistered a few nine.2 million SIMs - ending the potential for criminals and terrorists to flagrantly use cell networks undetected. In two quick years, Minister Pantami has pushed the contribution of the ICT area to the GDP to greater than 18 percentage, making it one of the top two gambling a important position inside the emergence of the financial system from the COVID 19-brought on recession.

In setting humans first, the Minister and this administration have made enemies. There are the ones inside the opposition who see achievement and want it halted by any method. And there is now well-stated information that alleges newspaper editors rebuffed an try and financially set off them to run a smear campaign in opposition to the minister by using some ICT companies, a lot of which do indeed stand to lose financially thru decrease expenses and extra customer protections. The government is now investigating the veracity at the back of these claims of attempted inducement, and – have to they be observed to keep credence – police and judicial action need to be predicted.

The Administration stands at the back of Minister Pantami and all Nigerian residents to make sure they acquire honest treatment, honest charges, and truthful protection in ICT services.