The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, Nigeria's foremost Islamic group under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto has lamented over what it calls the smear campaign against Dr Isa Pantami.
The minister of communications and digital economy has been at the centre of a controversy linking him to international terror groups due to his comments in the past.
JNI said the calls for Pantami's sack or resignation has degenerated into wild allegations and orchestrated lies.
The JNI's position was contained in a statement on Friday, April 23 by Sheikh Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, secretary-general of the organisation.
The JNI expressed its disgust that its name is being dragged into an alleged plot to assassinate the late Governor Yakowa of Kaduna state.
Some media reports had alleged Pantami chaired a JNI meeting where there was a plot to eliminate Yakowa.
Pantami was quoted as saying, “We must either use the security or other means to eliminate the governor, his family and all those they perceive as supporting him,”
In refuting the allegation, the JNI said: “We thought the plot against Sheikh Pantami is politically motivated, but surprisingly it is assuming to be a more sinister dimension born out of a well-thought-out scheme designed to smear and tarnish the image and the good name of the JNI and other Muslim organizations.
“Considering the various concerns raised by many citizens, vis’-a’- vis the attendant consequence of the scandalous allegation, we wish to place on record and for posterity that such never occurred and the JNI does not operate in such a dubious manner.”