By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Former Special Adviser on Religious Affairs to late Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has deflated the claims by some ‘faceless’ sources linking the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Ali Isa Pantami, to the death of his boss some years back.
Yakowa, the only Christian politician to govern Kaduna in recent democratic periods, was killed in an helicopter crash on his way to Port Harcourt Airport enroute Abuja, during the administration of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
General Andrew Azazi, the National Security Adviser at the time, was also killed in the shopper’s air accident that former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon escaped by the whiskers.
Amidst publication by Daily Independent about how United States listed Pantami among names connected to terrorist Al-Qaeda and Taliban groups, several ethnic and religious permutations cropped up with many fabricated video tapes and unattributed documents, one of which was a purported minute of meeting attempting to drag the Jama’atul Nasir-il Islami, JNI, and Pantami into the killing of Yakowa.
Although the United States authorities have since denied the Daily Independent’s claims, saying they were not aware of any terror list having Pantami’s name, opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken the matter to a new dimension after which some unconnecting videos have surfaced, trying to link him also with Boko Haram over straight comments where the Minister called against extra-judicial killings by security agencies in dealing with the terrorists, to avoid innocent being killed. There were video evidences in the past showing how security agents would invade homes, brought out people and opened fire killing them without taking them before the court of justice.
Those that believed the opposition, for different reasons of ethnicity and religion, have blatantly called for sack of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, even as Daily Independent that broke the unfortunate fake news has apologised to the Minister and pulled the story off its website.
The minister, Pantami, is one of religious personalities who heeded the calls for their participation in politics for national development. For the about two years he has been in office repositioning the telecommunications and digital sector of the nation and it’s economy, sponsors and operators of insecurity have never felt good especially from when he activated the compulsory NIN-SIM Cards Linkage order towards winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other criminalities in Nigeria.
Puncturing the latest waves of the anti-Pantami false clams of Yakowa’s assassination, which the Jama’atul Nasir-il Islami described as excessive, convulsive smear campaign taken too far, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, who is currently the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State Chapter, turned the claims to shreds with an additional poser that all the documents released were with doubtful authenticity linking the embattled minister, Pantami, and the Muslim community with the death of his boss, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.
Hayab said: “I have followed the unfolding saga and grievous revelations against the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami. However, I am alarmed by the dangerous turns of events, especially the issue linked with the release of some documents with doubtful authenticity linking the embattled minister, Pantami and the Muslim community with the death of His Excellency, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.
“The church and Yakowa’s family consider the allegation very serious with a possible adverse impact on peace and national security. Consequently, expresses strong reservations and concerns about statements like the ones associated in the past by Pantami as circulated in audios and videos released on social media.
“Society’s discomforts and disagreements should, however, not be enough reasons for us to approve the circulation of phony and injurious statements against any perceived foe. However, we consider that the “communique could be doctored. We are aware that in this age of technological advancements, we have to take any allegations with a pinch of salt until we are confident of the authenticity of the source.
“Sensitive documents like the ones purported to be from the JNI meeting in Bauchi should be subjected to thorough security investigation and trials, not tools for social media warfare. The danger of making this a media issue, instead of a legal and security issue that it ought to be, is that we stand to lose the most important point; that of bringing to justice persons accused to have wronged the law.
“Accordingly, there is a need for circumspection and care so that we do not throw our communities into further chaos in the rush to hang one man. At a time of strained relationships between neighbours, what we need are mediatory interventions and peacebuilding, rather than adding fuel to the raging fire.
“To be sure, when Sir, Yakowa died in an air crash there was no inquiry to determine the cause of his death, aside from the immediate and likely technical fault leading to the helicopter crash. We, the Christian community and indeed his immediate family acknowledged the tragedy, submitting to the will of God Almighty. For that purpose, there is no point, now or later, to open up what will not bring back our leader and father but rather open up old wounds in a very controversial manner.
“Hence, those with an axe to grind with Pantami should do so within their limits. As a Church leader, I chose to speak because of my deep belief that justice is natural and we shall live to account before our Lord. Besides, if we support unverified allegations against someone today because we loathe the person, the monster could be deployed against us or someone we cherish tomorrow.
“As someone very close to the late Yakowa, I call on all Nigerians to ignore the insinuations linking Pantami with Sir Yakowa’s death, endangering national peace. This, I call on security agencies to step in and tame the circulation of such dangerous documents. We cannot afford to stock fire when we should be pouring more water. Those who feel they have information to help the security agencies investigate whatever crimes against groups or individuals should do so within the provided window, without exacerbating the tension of formulating tales in the public space,” he said.
