The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu during the Wednesday plenary moved for the immediate resignation or sack of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, for showing sympathy to the activities of insurgents.
Elumelu prayed the House to cause a debate on the issue, particularly demanding Pantami’s exit from office, coming under Order 6, matters of privilege of the House standing Orders.
I would be recalled that public outrage has continued to trail revelations that Pantami made sympathetic utterances for the jihadists even though he had since apologized for making the remarks in the 2000s before taking up political appointments.
But according to Elumelu, “Pantami’s apology does not hold water”, stressing that even the Minister had apologized needlessly.
He said: “Mr. Speaker, honourable colleagues, I rise to move a point of order bothering on the infringement of my privileges.
“In the past few days I have been inundated with calls from my constituents and Nigerians seeking the resignation of the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr. Pantami who was allegedly accused of having link which seems to support Al-queda and Boko Haram knowing very well what we are facing with issues of insecurity in the country.
“Although he has apologized but to me, it doesn’t stand. So, I therefore call for his immediate resignation or sack”.
Ruling on the matter, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila who presided over the plenary said that the matter had been noted.
Saying; “Your point of privilege has been noted”.
