Many reactions have been raised with respect to the authenticity of the news alleging Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and digital economy, Sheikh Isa Pantami being placed on Terror watch-list for alleged ties with the late Boko Haram Leader Muhammed Yusuf, a report published by Daily Independent Newspaper on Monday.
DAILY GIST after a critical analysis to evaluate the story found out that the alleged report did not directly emanate from the said United States Government as there was no official statement from the US government on the allegation as at the time of publishing this report
DAILY GIST in it’s investigation though gathered that Pantami actually engaged the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf in a public debate many years ago to challenge his(Yusuf) doctrinal teachings which according to him are in total opposite to the Islamic doctrine.
Sheikh Pantami however, during the heated debate disagreed with Muhammed Yusuf’s position, insisting that Muslims should enrol in Western educations and equally participate in democracy. Yusuf argued to the contrary with his little controversial evidence which clearly represent his views and opinion rather than the true Islamic views and teachings
Pantami is known to have been preaching against the doctrines of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, a process the minister himself claim it endangers his life for over 15years.
DAILY GIST investigation revealed further that in February 2021, the acclaimed Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a 9-minute video disclosed that he instructed his men to target and kill Isa pantami for being a known public critic of Boko Haram and for introducing a policy on SIM cards to frustrate terrorist activities in Nigeria, a threat that might not have happened if truly there is any ties between pantami and the bokoharam.
Based on this evidences and development, one could deduce that the report of the minister being placed on the US terror watch list is misleading.
