The immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Sheikh Dr Isah Ali Pantami has stated that, it is wrong for people to think or say that, religious clerics should not join politics.
He stated this in an interview with the Voice Of America (VOA) Hausa Service, monitored by DAYLIGHT REPORTERS.
He said it is ignorance or selfishness to advocate that clerics should shun politics.
Pantami said, some Prophets of God such as Yusuf (Joseph) worked with a government and served in a capacity equivalent to minister of minerals resources in his time.
He said, “I already joined politics since the day I was appointed a minister. The constitution of Nigeria stipulates that a member of the national assembly must be a member of a political party, and the same requirements apply for the post of minister.
“If men of God or good people shun politics, how can the nation develop? The cleric queried rhetorically.
Pantami is a popular islamic preacher in the north and had preached in Bauchi state and served as chief imam of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi.
He was appointed Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and later a minister in the administration of ex president Muhammadu Buhari.
Since he joined the government and politics, some of the Muslims faithfuls criticised him and opined that a cleric is supposed to stay away from politics.
