Succour has come the way of the embattled Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, as a group of Christian faithfuls, who identified themselves simply as members of the “forum of bishops and clergy council society of Nigeria” has held a solidarity rally for him, signifying their firm support for his performance in office, and asking him to disregard the various calls for his resignation.
Recall that the Buhari’s Minister has been inaundated with the calls for his resignation in the past weeks over his past radical views supporting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The resignation calls followed the release of some video footages of the Minister from the 2000s by an online media outlet, wherein the minister was seen supporting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
But although the Minister said he has recanted his past views on the terror groups and asked for forgiveness, calls for his resignation from different quarters have refused to abate.
Apart from the Presidency who has come out to defend him, Patanmi appeared to be standing all alone and deserted in the court of the people.
However, in what now appears as a reprief for the Minister, pictures showing the group of christian faithful holding a solidarity march for the minister appeared on social media on Tuesday.
In the now-viral pictures, the unknown group in their few numbers carried a large banner with the inscription:
“Solidarity & Peace Rally in Support of President Muhammadu Buhari ICT Reform: Vote of Confidence on Dr. Ali Isa Pantami”.
Some members of the group were also seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Continue with your Good Work, Mr. President”, “Our Unity is above Religion, Politics, and Tribe”, “Vote of Confidence on Dr. Isa Pantami”, “Nigeria First”, “The Unity of Nigeria is Mon-negotiable” and “Dr. Isa Pantami Vindicated at Last”.
The picture has quickly become an object of discussion, with people seeking to know the identity of the group and their office address. But while this was still not known at the time of filing this report, the solidarity rally was said to have been held in the federal capital territory (FCT) at an area yet to be disclosed.