A former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell has dismissed the allegation that the embattled Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami is on the US watch list. The former US envoy said freedom of speech and thought is an integral part of the American system, and cannot crucify Pantami or deny him Visa for mere words that were spoken some decades ago.
Recall last week, Daily Independence claimed that the United States has placed the Minister on its watch list over alleged ties with al-Qaeda, a terrorist group.
Although the newspaper later withdraws the allegation it had already triggered a media war especially on the social media space and has been generating reaction from the general public, to an extent some group has to commence demanding his resignation.
Ambassador Campbell, while responding to an email chart sent to him by the Punch newspaper concerning Mr. Pantami's sermons and other public statements said, the acclaimed sermons cannot be a yardstick for putting Mr. Pantami on the US watch list.
Mr. Campbell served as ambassador to Nigeria between 2004 and 2007, said: “As for Mr. Pantami’s sermons and other public statements, a consular officer would want to know when he made them – years ago or yesterday.
“There is also the question of whether he advocated violence and whether his apology is a repudiation of what he said.
The former ambassador continued, “Is he now part of the international terrorist network? Or, are some of his views merely parallel to those of, say, Osama bin Laden? As you know, freedom of speech and of thought is integral to the American system, the envoy added.
He explained that “so, actions (including inflammatory rhetoric) weigh more heavily than a mere expression of ideas or beliefs. Each visa decision is made on a case-by-case based, he concluded.
