Alleged Terrorism: Presidency Under Fire Over Comment On Adeosun, Pantami

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu has been under fire after he compared the certificate forgery of former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to the terrorism scandal of Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme on Friday, Shehu defended the reason the presidency let Adeosun go but was quick to defend Pantami.

The presidential spokesman noted that the certificate forgery by Adeosun is more of a crime than the past extremist views of Pantami.

He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s response “would have been different” if Pantami had forged his certificate as Adeosun did.

Shehu said Pantami’s case only involved people probing his thoughts during the said lectures.

“In the second case which is that of Pantami, you are probing the thoughts, what is called ‘McCarthyism’; you search the inner recesses of the minds of individuals, bring out things they have said, or they are about to say, or you think they would say, and use that against them,” he said.

“If Pantami had forged certificate before coming into office, the attitude would have been different.

“We don’t remain in the same position. Don’t assume that things cannot change. If the one who created you gives it to you that from being bad, you can become good, what says you should deny some other persons this right?”

Shehu dismissed claims that the president’s support for Pantami suggests how the current administration tolerates violent religious extremism.

He said, instead, that those making such claims are “the problems of the society” for their unwillingness to forgive Pantami.

“Those people who stand in criticism of a man who has said he had wronged and society, he has apologised and changed, and they are not willing to forgive him to move on, they are the ones who are the problem. They are the ones who are deeply intolerant,” he said.

However, many Nigerians have taken to their social media page to express their displeasure over the comment made by the presidential aide concerning the Pantami controversy.

See some of the reactions below:

Buhari to Garba Shehu –
Go & tell Nigerians I STAND WITH Al-Qaeda.

Baba is standing firmly with Al-Qaeda. 🤣

— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) April 22, 2021

When it's time to make the bold statement, they give the mic to Garba Shehu.

When it's time to make the most gutter statement, they give the mic to Femi Adesina🤡

When it's time for beer palor talk, una know who na. Abi make I talk? 🍺

— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) April 23, 2021

On Channels Tv, Garba Shehu said it's people who brought up or are unhappy about Isa Pandemic's pro-terrorist messages that are intolerant.

Not the man who said he celebrated when unbelievers were killed.pic.twitter.com/t3LLrWV64z

— 20.10.2020 (@I_Am_Ilemona) April 24, 2021

Garba Shehu claimed that Kemi Adeosun's crime is greater than that of Isa Pantami. The Fulanis do the both, they forge certificate and carry out terrorism, but in reality terrorism is their highest scale of preference#YorubaNationNow#ThePenIsMightierThanTheSword

— Apejopo Omo Yoruba (@apejopomedia) April 24, 2021

Garba shehu on channelsTv just suggested that kemi Adeosun's forgery is greater a crime when compared wit pantami's Terrorism

Imagine the dolts we av in d corridor of power

This opinion is Neausating to say the least but it's not surprising comin from Al Qaeda people's congress

— DEMAGOGUE PhD.💘senior advocat (@von_Bismack) April 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/Real_AdaKing/status/1385672994580750340

Forgery is greater than terrorism. In order to justify Pantami's past actions, the lousy Garba Shehu goofed. This is the new Nigeria where forgery pose a threat to National unity than terrorism.

— Premier (@SodiqTade) April 23, 2021

Garba shehu on channelsTv just suggested that kemi Adeosun's forgery is greater a crime when compared wit pantami's Terrorism

Imagine the dolts we av in d corridor of power

This opinion is Neausating to say the least but it's not surprising comin from Al Qaeda people's congress

— DEMAGOGUE PhD.💘senior advocat (@von_Bismack) April 23, 2021