By Kelvin Adegbenga
My attention was called to a publication by the
controversial online media; Sahara Reporters on the Honourable Minister of
Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami titled “Buhari’s
Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Pantami Living Large in Abuja, Purchases
Three Houses in Wuse for his Three Wives”.
When I was searching for the news, I came across the
excellent response from the Minister’s spokesperson Uwa Suleiman which received
accolades from Nigerians who are used to the tissues of lies published by
Sahara Reporters.
Browsing through Sahara Reporters this afternoon, I
came across a poorly written opinion titled “ Minister Isa Pantami Abuja Houses
And The Lies Used To Cover Mores Lies” written by one Mashood Musbau, who I
strongly believe is a pseudo name of course.
To answer his uninformed opinion, I will like to go
into who Dr. Isa Ali Pantami is.
Dr. Pantami studied Computer Science at Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, Nigeria, gaining a BTech in 2003 Session
and an MSc in 2008, before obtaining a PhD from Robert Gordon University,
Aberdeen, Scotland. He spent his life pursuing both formal and informal
education, by switching from one form to another. He is also trained on Digital
transformation in Harvard University, USA then Management Strategy in both,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Institute of Management Development
in Loussaune, Switzerland. He was also in Cambridge University for Management
Programme, among others. Pantami lectured at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
in Information Technology before joining the Islamic University of Madinah as
Head of Technical Writing in 2014.
In 2016, he was appointed as the Director
General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
He was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of 13 newly appointed
chief executives for 13 government agencies. His directive for NITDA upon
employment was to develop the ICT infrastructure in the North East in the
aftermath of the destruction caused by Boko Haram insurgency. Shortly after the
WannaCry ransomware attack, he organized the second annual conference on
“Financial Fraud and Cyber Crime” in Abuja with the Federal Ministry of Justice
and private sector partners.
He also initiated the Nigerian national public key
infrastructure (PKI) programme, and went into a security partnership with ESET,
an IT security company that offers anti-virus and firewall products. Pantami
received an award as the “ICT Promoter of the Year 2017” in London by The
Nigerian in recognition of “positive contributions to the ICT revolution in
Nigeria, youth empowerment & good governance”. Within two years of his
stewardship, he has received over 50 awards and recognitions both within and
outside Nigeria.
Dr Isa Ali Pantami is a fellow of both British
Computer Society (FBCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS). He also has many
fellowships to his credit. Pantami is a Jummu’ah Chief Imam who has been
leading the Jummu’ah prayer for over 20 years in both Nigeria and the United
Kingdom. He serves as a Member of Shari’ah Board of Jaiz Bank. He is also a
Shurah member and Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah
(SCS) in Nigeria.
He was educated in Islam by scholars including Muhammad Umar
Fallatah, Muhammad ibn Al-Uthaymeen and Abdulmuhsin ibn Abbad. He is also the
Chairman of Board of Trustees of Al’Hudah Islamiyyah & Mosque Foundation,
and a Member/Secretary of Bauchi State Elders Advisory Committee and Bauchi
state National Qur’anic Competition Committee among other committees. Pantami
authored more than a dozen books on ICT, STEM, technology, politics &
community reconciliation, religion and peaceful coexistence, as well as over 20
publications in international journals, including International Journal of
Innovative Research in Engineering and Management (IJIREM), Macrotheme Review,
and International Journal of Computer & Information Technology. Religious
books authored by him include Islam and Politics, Synonimity or Dichotomy?, The
Essentials of Marriage in Establishing An Ideal Family, Month of The Qur’an
& Its Virtues, and 63 Steps of Performing an Acceptable Hajj and Its
Spiritual and Moral Lesson. On 23th July of this year 2019 he the list of new
ministerial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari. He is now the Honourable
Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.
In response to the fictitious Mashood Musbau poorly
written opinion; full of spelling mistakes, I will like to clarify that the
Minister's spokesperson remained professional as testified by seasoned
journalists. It is her duty to clear the air around her Boss and she has done
an excellent job.
I don’t know the moral right of the fictitious
Mashood Musbau to question the Minister's Spokesperson on questions such as the
movement of the Minister's two wives; who pay the house rent; his salary at the
University in Saudi and the kind of business he was doing.
A man of Pantami's status deserves houses in
Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape and any part of the World.
Pantami has occupied his present house since January
2017; more than two years before becoming a Minister.
The other house he rented since 17th December 2019
was as a result of his Status as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
which he is entitled to like other Ministers.
For the ignorant of the fictitious Mashood Musbau,
Pantami as never used religion for worldly gains as most of his staffs are
Christians.
I challenge the fictitious Mashood Musbau to show
evidences of journalist paid "to quite down the truth".
Kelvin Adegbenga is a Public Affairs Analyst based
in Lagos. kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com
@kelvinadegbenga
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