A Coalition of North-East Groups has condemned what it called a politically motivated attack by a section of the media against the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Gombe, Coordinator of the coalition, Abubakar Muhammad Modire, said the sustained attack on the minister by some biased media organisation was a campaign of calumny targeted at Dr Pantami to tarnish his image.

He alleged that the reports linking the minister with some unsubstantiated relationship with terrorism and other forms of criminality particularly in the north, “is being perpetrated by political power-seekers who see a threat in Dr Pantami’s radical transformation at the ministry.

“We are concerned that in spite of the minister’s dignified reserve and refusal to engage in altercations with the self-appointed and antagonists of the northern region, no stone is being left unturned by these people to see that the lies are sustained beyond the limits and extents allowed by rules of decency,” he said.

According to him, the detractors have failed to provide the proof to their irresponsible allegations and also broadened their animosity beyond the minister to the entire northern region and the younger generation.

Modire added that the coalition has called on the federal government, “to as a matter of urgency call media operators to order, especially in their reporting of all security issues in the country.”