TECHDIGEST – A faith-based human rights organisation, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has disagreed with the Academic Staff Union of Nigeria (ASUU) on its stand regarding the professorial appointment of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami). It will be recalled that ASUU yesterday described Professor Pantami’s appointment as ‘illegal’. Reacting to the development, MURIC said ASUU had not learnt its lesson.

The human rights group spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 15th February, 2022.

MURIC said : “The Academic Staff Union of Universities yesterday declared Professor Pantami’s professorial appointment as illegal. It is the joke of the century. ASUU has no locus standi to declare illegal an appointment made by a university with the approval of the appointments and promotions committee and ratified by the university’s council.

“What is ASUU national trying to do? What exactly is their problem? ASUU national has no right to usurp the powers of University A & P or that of its council. On what ground is ASUU acting as a national A & P (if there is anything like that) and the Grand Council of all universities?

“It is trespass. ASUU national should know its limits. Again, is there any section of ASUU constitution which empowers it to override appointments made by universities? This is an affront. No more, no less.

“The last time we checked, the power of appointment rests with A & P Committee of each university and pronouncement rests with the university council. No university worth its salt will consult ASUU over issue of promotion or appointment. Where did ASUU national get this absurd idea?

“Again, when last did ASUU wade into procedures for promotion or appointment of the academia in any Nigerian university? What we know of is that individual lecturers who feel wronged on promotion issues may report their university to the local ASUU. That is why what the national body is doing is strange. Or is it a witch-hunt?

“Is ASUU dancing to the gallery by championing the hate campaign of a section of the country? But will ASUU be able to carry all its branches along? For instance, will Northern universities see things the way ASUU national sees it? ASUU national will divide this body again if it continues this way. Remember that many other universities have formed other lecturers’ associations because of bullying from the center.

“One expects ASUU national to have learnt its lesson by now. There is a world of difference between fighting the collective cause of all members and fighting your own member or fighting a particular branch. This is a fight you cannot win. What came out of the conflict between ASUU national and its Unilorin branch? Who blinked first? Ilorin dealt with ASUU national and got away with it.

“It is quite amusing that ASUU national threatened to sanction those who participated in the process that led to what ASUU called ‘illegal’ appointment. It is an empty threat. Unions are not held together by the force of threats. They are kept alive by good leadership, tolerance and sacrifice.

“Besides, Professor Pantami’s work at FUTO is a voluntary work that attracts no payment and this has a place in the rules of the civil service. Neither is the minister doing it without the knowledge and approval of Mr. President.

“Before dropping the anchor, we assert clearly, unequivocally and categorically that appointments conducted by A & P committee of the university and ratified by council cannot be illegal. ASUU national leaders should avoid issues capable of tearing its union apart.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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TECH DIGEST – The Daily Independent newspaper has retracted its story and apologised to Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami over its Publication alleging that Mr. Pantami was placed on the terrorism watchlist of the United States Government.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, which was signed by its editor, the medium not that it has realised that the information contained in the story has not been verified to be true.

“Our attention has been drawn to the story with the above title, published in the Sunday Independent newspaper of April 11, 2021. We have since realized that the information contained in the story has not been verified to be true. The Minister mentioned in the story, Alhaji Isa Ali Ibrahim, also known as Sheikh Pantami, is not known to be on American Terror Watch List, nor is he linked to terror organisations. We regret and sincerely apologise for the embarrassment our story has caused the Honourable Minister whom we hold in high regard,” Editor, Daily Independent wrote.

Furthermore, checks on its website revealed that the medium has taken the story down from its Publications.

This retraction has come after PRNigeria Published findings of its Investigation revealed that the Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja could not confirm the allegation levelled against the Minister by the Newspaper.

Responding to a request for clarification over a media report linking the Minister to terrorism, the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy could not provide any information but referred PRNigeria to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency.

Further investigation via the official website of FBI, Mr. Pantami’s name was nowhere to be found in the list of Most Wanted Terrorists, Fugitives or other Criminals.

The Nigerian Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR) has condemned as sensational and speculative media reports unleashed on the personality Pantami in what it described as a desperate attempt to stop him on his transformative tracks by linking him up to terrorist associations.

Meanwhile, Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) says a report linking Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami with terrorism is fake news.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director, MURIC said this in a statement in Abuja.

“Our attention has been drawn to a trending report that Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is on the U.S. watch list for having links with terrorists. It is fake news. It is a lie from the pit of Jahannam.

“It is a product of malice, envy and evil desire concocted in the laboratory of the notorious pull him down syndrome. It exists only in the imagination of the authors of the evil plan, It will not stand the test of authenticity,” he said.

Akintola extolled the expertise and dedication of Pantami to his duties as minister and member of Federal Executive Council.

“Pantami is an honest, diligent and uncommon Islamic scholar whose ability to combine his discipline with digital expertise has raised him above his peers and made him an indispensable asset to this country. It is only people with diseased minds, who do not want progress for Nigeria that can make such malicious yet false allegation against him.

“We have been reading Pantami’s articles and watching his lecture videos long before he became minister, and on no occasion did he pour encomiums on terrorists or their aides. On the contrary, he always condemned violence and terrorism. Therefore, those who claim that he ‘spoke glowingly’ of associates of terrorist leaders are apostles of Lucifer and pathological liars,” Akintola said.

By PRNigeria

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TECH DIGEST – Some Nigerian newspapers yesterday published reports that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is on the watchlist of the United States. However, The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has described the report as fake news.

MURIC’s reaction was contained in a press release issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 14th April, 2021.

The statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to a trending report that Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is on the United State’s watchlist for having links with terrorists.

“It is fake news. It is a lie from the pit of jahannam. It is a product of malice, envy and evil desire concocted in the laboratory of the notorious ‘pull him down’ (PhD) syndrome. It exists only in the imagination of the authors of the evil plan. It will not stand the test of authenticity.

“Pantami is a honest, dilligent and uncommon Islamic scholar whose ability to combine his discipline with digital expertise has raised him above his peers and made him an indispensable asset to this country. It is only people with diseased minds who do not want progress for Nigeria that can make such malicious yet false allegation against him.

“We have been reading Pantami’s articles and watching his lecture videos long before he became minister and on no occasion did he pour encomiums on terrorists or their aides. On the contrary, he always condemned violence and terrorism. Therefore, those who claim that Pantami ‘spoke glowingly’ of associates of terrorist leaders are apostles of Lucifer and pathological liars.

“In fact, Dr. Pantami removed the rug from under the feet of Yusuf, the erstwhile leader of Boko Haram. This he did in several debates during his days as a university lecturer and those video tapes are still available for all to watch.

“We believe that Pantami’s detractors are after something else, otherwise the threat issued by Shekau, the current leader of Boko Haram (https://dailynigerian.com/in-new-video-shekau-threatens-isa-pantami-bulama-bukarti/) against the person of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami would have been enough to dissuade them from embarking on this futile attempt at damaging the reputation of a great scholar and a patriot nulli secundus.

“Shekau’s threat against Pantami was made openly in a video clip on 13th February, 2021 (just two months ago) and it was public knowledge at the time. It prompted the Nigerian authorities and friends of the minister to urge him to take adequate security measures around his person and family members. Is it not paradoxical that the same Pantami whom terrorists threatened to kill is now being accused of being a sponsor and ally of terrorism? It is highly illogical.

“We strongly suspect that those behind the fake news are jittery over the minister’s revolutionary ideas particularly the ongoing linkage of the NIN with SIM cards. This development is believed to be giving criminals sleepless nights as it is capable of exposing their identities.

This fake news is therefore an attempt to blackmail him into stopping the revolutionary linkage of the NIN to the SIM. Nevertheless, the fact that the United States embassy has dissociated itself from the allegation thereby giving the minister a clean bill of health is didactic and reassuring.

“MURIC is constrained to react to the fake story not only because of our deep commitment to upholding the truth and defending the innocent, but also because we have also been victims of such malicious and damaging false allegation in the past.

“We recall the false accusation against us that our director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, collected $200,000 from ISWAP and Boko Haram (https://abtc.ng/revealed-muric-receiving-funds-from-iswap,-says-mali-intelligence-chief/). Those behind the allegation could not substantiate it and nothing was heard of them again. We knew at the time that it was an attempt to blackmail us into silence but we refused to be silenced by men of evil. We denied the allegation and we forged ahead with the protection, promotion and projection of Allah-given and fundamental rights of innocent Nigerians.

“We therefore advise Dr. Pantami to ignore his detractors and continue the good work which he is doing for the country. Nigerians are proud of him. Nigerians are praying for him. Nigerians repose their full confidence in him. MURIC is solidly behind him in his efforts to digitalise the economy and rid Nigeria of criminals and unscrupulous elements.

“We invite the minister to ponder over the words of the messengers of Allah to Lut, ‘And when our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and he felt powerless. But we said, “Fear not, nor grieve. We shall save thee and your followers …’ (Qur’an 29:33). Again Allah assures those who believe in Him, ‘Do not lose heart, nor fall into despair, for you shall be victorious as long as you have faith in Allah’ (Qur’an 3:139).”

“We urge the Fourth Estate of the realm to demonstrate full professionalism when carrying out their duties. There is no excuse whatsoever for defamatory reports that cannot be backed with evidence. Facts are sacred and they must be investigated with microscopic accuracy. Journalists should not allow themselves to be used by selfish and callous individuals for their personal gains.”

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

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