Pantami renounces controversial comments on Al Qaeda, Taliban, says they were made in ignorance

By our reporter| Under fire minister of communication and digital economy, Isa Pantami, on Saturday said he has renounced some controversial comments he made in support of Al Qaeda terror group and the Taliban.

As the call for his sack by President Buhari continues to grow in social media and among government critics, if he refuses to resign, Pantami while answering questions during his daily Ramadan lecture at Al-Noor Mosque in Abuja, said he now regrets some of the comments concerning the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

“For 15 years, I have moved round the country while educating people about the dangers of terrorism. I have traveled to Katsina, Gombe, Borno, Kano states, and Difa in Niger Republic to preach against terrorism, he said.

“I have engaged those with Boko Haram ideologies in different places. I have been writing pamphlets in Hausa, English, and Arabic. I have managed to bring back several young persons who have derailed from the right path.

“Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity.

“I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later.”