The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami is engaged, on twitter, in war of words with Diaspora Commission Director-General, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Eruwa, over allegations that Pantami used armed men to chase staff of the Commission from the office space allocated it by the Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC).
The news of the lockout and relocation of the NDC staff from the NCC building, which the Minister has converted to his office broke early February 2020, when President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the building at the invitation of the minister.
When the story broke then there were no rebuttals. But yesterday the NCC came out with a press statement saying that the NDC was not asked out of the building.
The statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Henry Nkemadu stated among other things that it had not revoked the offer of space to NDC. It went on to explain what happened at the time the news broke.
The statement said : “The NCC has not withdrawn the offer but had hiccups arising from the preparation for the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Communications and Digital Economy Complex and launch of the other projects relating to the mandate of government”.
But Mrs Dabiri-Eruwa in a response to Pantami’s claim on twitter that NDC was not chased out of the building went on twitter accusing the minister of lying.
She went on to post a video showing “the Secretary of NiDCOM addressing the staff of the Commission shortly after being locked out of their office on the order of the Minister @DrIsaPantami on the 11th of February, 2020”.
She claimed notice of evacuation was given via a text message on the 9th of February, 2020.
“To refresh you Sir. Despite your denial. The Sec of the Commission seeking for calm after Staff resumed for work and denied access to the 5th floor office of Nidcom. Based on your instruction. Turned back by armed men. Haba!!!!”, She twitted.
Dabiri-Eruwa also went on to add: “An Islamic scholar should not lie Hon Minister. You did that to me cos I am a woman .Your disrespect for women is legendary Left the ugly incident behind me since Feb. But pls release all our office equipment. Public office is transient.
But in his response on his twitter account Pantami said: “THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY:
‘We need to balance a story before reporting. The Minister has never sent any gunmen since the building is not directly under him, but @NgComCommission. They have issued a statement, saying her reports are not true. Why no fair-hearing if one is accused
“THIS IS A FAT LIE FROM HER: The owner of the building @NgComCommission has faulted her lies on their social media platforms. The minister has never given that directives to any gunman. We need to be very objective in reporting. I have never sent any gunmen there, & I have no one’, the minister responded.
