I Have Over 22,000 Political Structure, My Popularity In Gombe Villages Bigger Than Social Media — PDP Gov Candidate Pantami Declares
Gombe State PDP governorship candidate, Sheikh Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has declared that his political popularity across Gombe State is overwhelming both online and offline, insisting that his physical support base in villages and towns far outweighs what is seen on social media.
Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, former Director-General of NITDA and PDP governorship candidate in Gombe state, stated this during an exclusive interview with DCL Hausa monitored by Northern Nigeria Hub.
Responding to claims that he is only popular on social media and lacks grassroots structure, Pantami dismissed the insinuation, saying his supporters are real human beings and not ghosts.
“Honestly speaking, my popularity on the political battlefield and on social media — all statistics indicate this. Everything we have done, the physical presence even outweighs the social media presence. The point is, are those on social media ghosts?” he queried.
He revealed that he commanded a political structure of over 22,000 members built over two years.
“I have a structure of over 22,000 in politics alone, built for over two years. But as a strategist, you don’t unveil all your tools. We are silent on them, but they don’t know what we possess as a structure,” Pantami said.
Why I Joined the Governorship Race
On why he is contesting despite his previous reluctance to join partisan politics, Pantami said elders, youths and stakeholders mounted pressure on him to run, prompting him to seek divine guidance through Istikhara prayer and Umrah in Makkah.
“Originally, I had no desire to contest in politics. But some elders, youth, politicians and key stakeholders began coming to me. I prayed: O Allah, if there is good in this and we can contribute to positive change, grant us the ability; if there is no good in it, remove it from our hearts. I went to Makkah for Umrah and prayed over it,” he said.
He said Northern Nigeria is bedevilled by insecurity, illiteracy, moral decay, poverty and unemployment, which will not fix themselves unless dedicated people step forward.
“Our intention is not for personal gain. Northern Nigeria gave us everything — our religious education, our western education, our upbringing. When we were growing up, the problems seen today did not exist. It would be a betrayal of our people, our country and our state if we, still in our prime, step aside when we have contributions to make to alleviate the hardship of the common man,” he added.
Gombe Is 3rd Poorest State In Nigeria
Pantami identified human development as the biggest challenge facing Gombe State, saying successive administrations focused more on physical infrastructure than on people.
He acknowledged the efforts of former Governors Danjuma Goje and Ibrahim Dankwambo in building Gombe State University, College of Education, Polytechnic, School of Nursing and the airport, and commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the Industrial Park, but said sustainability and human capital remain the missing link.
“The main remaining challenge is human development. Empowering people to become self-reliant, educated, healthy and morally upright,” he said.
Citing the National Multidimensional Poverty Index and National Bureau of Statistics data, Pantami said Gombe is in crisis.
“Gombe State ranks as the third poorest state in all of Nigeria. Only two states are worse than us — one in the North-West and one in the South-South. 33 states enjoy better living standards than us. Even states with active conflicts like Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, Yobe and Taraba fare better than Gombe.”
“Our poverty level is approximately 86.2 percent. Out of every 100 people in Gombe, 86 live in poverty. Over 787,000 individuals in Gombe do not attend school. Adult literacy does not exceed 43 to 44 percent. These are our children — how can their future be bright in illiteracy without Western or religious education?” he lamented.
He also decried the condition of pensioners, revealing that some receive N9,000 monthly pension.
“I saw their leaders complaining last month about being paid N9,000 as pension. How can a human being survive on N9,000?” he asked.
Pantami blamed the situation on seven years of misplaced priority.
“In the past seven years, focus was directed heavily toward building roads, houses and offices. Building roads is important, but developing the human being is far more important. Instead of building a new Government House with billions, investing those billions into human capacity yields far greater impact. In any society, nothing holds higher value than the human being.”
My Plan To Fight Poverty
On how he will tackle poverty if elected, Pantami said he will not share cash, but will create jobs and skills.
“Any society where poverty is not actively fought will never be free from insecurity, moral decadence and oppression. Any prosperous society will see these problems ease.”
He outlined three strategies: attracting foreign direct investment to create companies and jobs, returning out-of-school children to school, and upskilling graduates through upskilling, reskilling and cross-skilling.
For example, he said a Sociology graduate will be sponsored for a cybersecurity certification.
“Government will pay for it. Within a short or medium time, he will get certified. What he will earn annually after that can reach $150,000 — over N200 million per year,” he said.
I Am A Leader For All Faiths
Responding to concerns about his background as a prominent Islamic scholar in a religiously diverse Gombe State, Pantami said his track record in federal positions proves his fairness to all.
“Before now, I headed agencies whose mandate was the whole of Nigeria. As DG NITDA for about three years and Minister for four years, almost seven years, my mandate was not a state but all Nigeria. I worked with Muslims and Christians, Yoruba, Igbo, Igala, Ebira, Kanuri, Hausa, Fulani — everyone. We lived in trust and justice was done to all. Till yesterday I was called that a non-Muslim former staff wants to come and greet me. The benefit of knowledge is that it teaches you justice, trustworthiness, truthfulness and compassion,” he said.
No Fear Of Election
On his confidence of winning, Pantami said the fear is on the other side.
“It goes beyond… You know those who are apprehensive. It is obvious,” he said, adding that in both physical and online polls conducted across all 114 wards in Gombe, he scored over 80 percent.
“I have toured all 11 local governments. You should see the videos — in some towns crowds stop me from entering my car, they make me walk for 40 minutes. Are those ghosts? Those are real people,” he said.
He accused other candidates of copying his campaign style.
“Whatever we do, they copy. If I visit in the daytime openly with truth, they copy it the next day. If you take a photo with me today, someone will call you to ask you to come to their own side. We are dealing with politicians who lack intellectual capacity for what we are doing,” he alleged.
He challenged his opponents, including APC candidate Jamilu Gwamna, to an open debate.
“Just invite me now, wake me from sleep, I am ready. Call them tomorrow and if they agree, let us debate. Not only him, any candidate — I am ready. Because what we plan for leadership, we have knowledge of it and we have delivered before. Let others go and check records in ministries they headed.”
EFCC Probe And APC
On whether he fears EFCC probe over his tenure as Minister, Pantami said any public officer who fears investigation is not truthful.
“Anyone who stayed in public office and says he fears investigation is not truthful. While in office, I expected documents to be checked. Everything we did, we first feared Allah. My guiding principle was: how will I defend myself before Allah on the day no lawyer can defend me? If you do right, you enjoy blessing; if you do evil, you face punishment,” he said.
Asked if he would still criticize Gombe’s poor water supply and poverty if he were in APC, Pantami said:
“Even if I were in APC, it would never be a rule that if I see something wrong I should keep quiet. If I see wrong, I must correct it. What is good, I will build on it. The issue is not party, it is Gombe State and its people that come first. Whatever is good we will continue, whatever is not right we will correct.”
