Former Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, has refuted claims that he ever described politics as haram (forbidden in Islam), insisting his involvement in governance is driven by a commitment to good leadership.
Pantami made the clarification Friday during an interview with BBC Hausa, addressing what he described as misrepresentation of his position on political participation.
“I never said politics is haram,” Pantami stated emphatically.
The former minister, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, revealed he has been a registered member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2019a constitutional requirement for his ministerial appointment.
“It’s in the Nigerian constitution that you can’t be a minister if you’re not registered with a political party,” he explained.
The denial follows recent comments by Pantami urging northern elites to prioritize strategic investment in media infrastructure over mosque construction. He warned that years of underinvestment have created what he termed a “dangerous communication deficit” in the region.
Pantami maintained that his political engagement aims to deliver good governance to his constituents and Nigeria at large.
