Former education minister Oby Ezekwesili says President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to react to terrorism allegations against Isa Pantami could put Nigeria on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Mr Pantami is the country’s minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

Mrs Ezekwesili, who berated Mr Buhari’s silence in a tweet on Thursday, warned that the country must avoid being listed among countries sponsoring terrorism.

“The @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident @MBuhari may not realise that the world is following the ugly developments on our country’s Minister of Communication and how his government is handling or, in fact, ignoring to handle it. Nigeria must avoid the List of States that Sponsor Terrorism,” Mrs Ezekwesili said.

Mr Pantami faces an avalanche of criticisms amid calls for his resignation following Peoples Gazette’s reports of his avowed support for terrorist groups like Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.

The Gazette had published audio and video recordings showing Mr Pantami’s sympathy and support for the groups.

Following the revelation, Nigerians have continued to call for his resignation or sack, insisting that a country facing acute insecurity, including a decade-long insurgency, should not have a terrorist sympathiser as a member of the president’s cabinet.

However, Mr Buhari failed to address the controversies despite having the opportunity to do so at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.

After the meeting, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said the raging controversy over the communication minister was not discussed at the FEC meeting chaired by Mr Buhari, despite outcry from concerned Nigerians.

Mr Buhari and the FEC’s refusal to address Mr Pantami’s link to terrorist organisations coincided with Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s decision to shut down a debate about the minister’s terror affiliation at the House of Representatives.

The clamour for Mr Pantami’s resignation continues to intensify as The Gazette uncovers more documents exposing the minister’s clandestine link to the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa and the plot to wipe out Christians from northern Nigeria violently.