Pantami: Video of Army Commander Saying Repentant Terrorists Can Become President of Nigeria Resurfaces on Social Media

 

A video of a Nigerian army commander saying that terrorists who have repented can become Nigeria's President has resurfaced on social media following calls for the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami to resign.

 

Pantami became a risk to Nigerians after his comments supporting terrorist groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda surfaced online.

 

A video has now re-emerged on social media showing the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division, Major General Abdulmalik Bulama Biu, saying that repentant Boko Haram terrorists can become Nigerian president.

 

According to the video obtained from Channels Television website, the army commander spoke on July 21, 2019 during an interview with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

 

“An ex Boko Haram having laid his arms and turned away from his negativity, stands to be a president of this country; he stands to aspire to any position in this country. Why is he wasting his time when he cannot even deliver?” Biu had said.

 

Some two years after, the viral video has resurfaced online following a statement by presidential aide, Garba Shehu, on Thursday that the Muhammadu Buhari regime stands with Pantami.

 

The communications minister has been in the eye of the storm of late over past pro-Taliban comments support terrorist activities. Though he has since renounced the comments, blaming immaturity, many Nigerians continue to demand his sacking or resignation.

 

But in the statement on Thursday, Shehu ruled out the possibility of the sacking of the minister, saying, “The minister has, rightly, apologized for what he said in the early 2000s. The views were absolutely unacceptable then, and would be equally unacceptable today, were he to repeat them. But he will not repeat them – for he has publicly and permanently condemned his earlier utterances as wrong.

 

Outraged by the supposed verdict of the Presidency, many Nigerians have since taken to social media to censure the Buhari regime over its apologist stance on Pantami despite his past escapade with terrorists.

 

Award-winning journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, said the Presidency tacitly endorsed terrorism with its stance on the Pantami saga.

 

“Soldiers in war front wasting their lives in the name of patriotism should be pitied really. The fight against terror will not end if it is continued in Sambisa. The real war front is Aso Rock where the real terrorists hide. Buhari open support for terrorism speaks volume,” stated another tweep, @mrfestusogun.

 

Also, @DanielRegha, described the Presidency’s defence of Pantami’s past radical life as unprecedented hypocrisy.