Isa Pantami’s Disrespect For Women Legendary - Abike Dabiri Blasts Buhari’s Minister

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa on Sunday disclosed that the disrespect which the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has for women is legendary, stressing that the minister is tackling her because she is female.

This followed the forced eviction of NIDCOM staff from their office at the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, building in Abuja. Addressing the minister, she posted a video with the text: “To refresh you sir, despite your denial; the secretary of the commission seeking 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!!!!”.

AllNews reports that the quarrel between the two top officials of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government started after Abike Dabiri, in a video posted on NIDCOM Twitter page, accused Pantami of ordering armed men to chase away her workers from the office given to them by NCC.

She said in the video, “In one year, we don’t even have an office. The office we got, given to us by the NCC, we were actually driven away by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Isa Pantami. Within two days he drove us out with guns and what happened? The place was given to us by the NCC.

“You know we all help each other, NCC as an agency of government, said there is a place you can use to settle in. And just as we settled in, I was in Ethiopia when I got a call. I thought that it was a joke. I came back from Ethiopia on Thursday, this happened on Tuesday, by Friday when I went to the office, guns, armed men had taken over the place. I thought it was a joke; but here is the thing, I’m a government employee, so is he. It’s government business. Do I go on the street and start fighting. No. So, I said I would take the moral higher ground.

“I have complained officially, but we let it be. He wants the place, let him take it. And that place is still there, a whole floor is still vacant. As I speak with you all our items are locked up. I don’t have a computer; I don’t have printers, everything has been locked up.”

However, the minister while debunking the claim as a fat lie, tweeting that “The owner of the building @NgComCommission has faulted her lies on their social media platforms. The minister has never given that directive to any gunman. We need to be very objective in reporting. I have never sent any gunmen there, and I have no one”.

Respecting, the former House of Reps member wrote, “An Islamic scholar should not lie. Hon minister (Phd), you did that to me because I am a woman. Your disrespect for women is legendary. Left the ugly incident behind me since February. But please, release all our office equipment. Public office is transient”.