Presidency reacts to report Buhari’s Minister, Isa Pantami’s links to Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda

The Presidency has reacted to the viral news of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami being linked to Terrorist networks like Boko Haram and Al Qaeda.

An online source reports that Isa Pantami has been placed on US Terrorist watchlist e of his suspected ties worry former Boko Haram leader, the late Mohammed Yusuf.

It also added that Isa Pantami is a staunch follower of Abu Quata­da al Falasimi and other Al-Qaeda leaders.

However, while reacting to the news, Bashar Ahmad, one of President Buhari’s aide, disputes the report as emphasized that Isa Pantami is not on any US watchlist.

His tweet reads;

“You have just endorsed a fake report without verifying. As a media outlet @NewsWireNGR you know exactly how to verify such reports, but no, you are here pushing a false and dangerous narrative to your thousands of followers. FYI @DrIsaPantami has never been on any US watchlist.”

However, despite Bashar Ahmad’s post, here is how Nigerians are reacting to the story.

See tweets below👇

Isa pantami,Nigeria's minister of communication and digital economy is said to be on US terrorist watch list for he's affiliation with Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.if this is true then critical thinking should spur you to ask why he was given the ministerial portfolio 4 communications

— Osia.G (@OsiaG2) April 12, 2021

With this Isa Pantami’s link with Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram. I’ll state clearly that I’m not going to register for NIN, this Buhari government can’t be trusted

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— MrDimple 🦚 (@Olutwitchy20) April 12, 2021

I can't speak for Isa Pantami but I knew he was an upright discrediter of Mohammed Yusuf doctrine. All this is caused by the nation poor intelligent gathering, the agencies responsible are not proactive in their operations. We depend on US and other countries for intelligence.

— #Fulani (@binyaminu_24744) April 12, 2021

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When Boko Haram claimed the shooting down of a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet in a video. They believed and said BH don't lie. But its hard for them to believe the leader of BH, Abubakar Shekau, has threatened Isa Pantami in his videos on many occasions.

— Aliyu Umar (@aleeyou_jnr) April 12, 2021

The same Isa Pantami that made millions of Nigerians go out to register for NIN not minding the Covid-19 pandemic, also threatened Nigerians with imprisonment for not registering for NIN is how been placed on US Terrorist Watchlist… Drama everywhere

— ◽ROUGH ◽ RIDER◽ (@Slade1_) April 12, 2021

Whether that YouTube video of Isa Pantami and Yusuf is a conversation or debate, the fact that he was in that setting with someone like Yusuf is enough reason to not make him a minister.

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— O.L.U.W.A.D.A.R.E 🇳🇬 (@oluwadxre) April 12, 2021

While not holding brief for the minister, this is a message Abubakar Shekau sent to Isa Pantami in Feb 2020.

“This warning is for Isa Ali Panatami; don’t think simply because you preach in English or because you are called a doctor, it means you have knowledge of Islam."

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— Israel Usulor (@JonalistIsrael) April 12, 2021