The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack communication minister Isa Pantami over his extremist views.

In a letter addressed to Mr Buhari, the group argued that the minister had developed a level of orientation that could not be whisked away by mere recanting.

“ Mr. President, we wish to state unequivocally that the fact that Pantami has developed the level of orientation that made him uttered those grievous words and statements as stated above, cannot be wished away by mere recanting which some people in your cabinet are claiming he has done,” the group in the letter said.

It added “Ideological issues are ingrained in the mind of those who pursue it. Even when they denounce it they are not to be trusted because they can always go back to that conviction that led them into accepting that extremism and for somebody who has said that people should be killed and that he is happy when he sees that and who has supported terrorists in the past, we want to believe that it cannot get out of his mind so easily.”

Reinforcing the need for Mr Pantami’s sack, the group expressed worries that the minister who is heading a data-sensitive ministry could leak the information of citizens to terrorist groups.

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 expose, Nigerians have continued to call for the resignation of the minister.

Ignoring clamour and concerns of Nigerians that called for the minister’s resignation, Mr Buhari despite acknowledging that Mr Pantami supported terrorist organisations and incited the Muslim communities against the Christians in the North through declaration of jihad and fatwa, insisted that the “apology” of the minister was enough to heal the wounds and console the victims of his divisive past.