Investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, has questioned the political ambition of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, warning that combining clerical duties with partisan politics could undermine his chances.
Jaafar expressed the view in a Facebook post on Saturday, where he criticised what he described as Pantami’s “phantom political ambition” and the contradiction of seeking elective office while maintaining the image of a religious preacher.
“I really doubt if Pantami’s phantom political ambition is going to work as long as he wants to be identified as both a preacher and a politician,” Jaafar wrote.
According to him, attempting to function in both roles would create conflict and weaken effectiveness, stressing that divided attention could be detrimental to political success.
To illustrate his point, the journalist cited a Hausa proverb, noting that one cannot effectively pursue two demanding tasks at the same time.
“A Hausa proverb has it that you cannot be running and scratching your itchy nyash simultaneously. This clearly means you cannot sprint effectively, as split focus kills momentum,” he stated.
Jaafar further argued that the former minister was grappling with what he termed “role conflict and cognitive dissonance,” insisting that Pantami must make a clear choice between spiritual leadership and active politics.
He advised Pantami to completely abandon his clerical posture if he intends to pursue political ambition, describing the two callings as incompatible.
“What Pantami needs at the moment is to avoid acting like ‘sadakar yalla’ — both a destitute and a courtesan,” he said.
Jaafar added that Pantami should “doff his preaching garb” and make a total transition from spiritual leadership to politics, noting that clerical authority thrives on moral clarity, while politics often relies on rhetoric and compromise.
He also painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s political terrain, warning that those seeking political power must be prepared for its harsh realities.
“Nigerian politics is grimy. You cannot work in a sewer line and expect to come out clean,” he wrote.
Jaafar’s comments came days after Pantami, who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, visited the All Progressives Congress state secretariat in Gombe to revalidate his membership of the party.
