Pantami’s academic controversy raises concerns

A former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Gombe State Council, Danjuma Kala, has questioned the suitability of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami to govern Gombe State, citing what he described as serious concerns surrounding Pantami’s professorial appointment.

Kala made his position known in a piece titled, “Why Pantami Should Not Be Trusted With the Governance of Gombe: 2027,” dated September 5, 2026, in which he argued that the academic and institutional history of political candidates should be subjected to rigorous scrutiny before they are entrusted with public office.

According to him, the controversy surrounding Pantami’s elevation to the rank of professor raises broader questions about institutional integrity, transparency and adherence to established procedures.

He said, “The question is not whether technical authority was exercised, but whether institutional processes were followed with appropriate rigor, transparency, and adherence to established standards.”

Kala argued that Gombe voters should examine not only the promises of candidates seeking to govern the state but also their records and the circumstances surrounding their professional advancement.

He stressed, “A leader who demonstrates willingness to advance through processes marked by serious procedural irregularities sends a clear message about how that leader would approach governance itself.”

Addressing the role of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the controversy, Kala noted that ASUU did not have the statutory power to appoint or remove professors.

He clarified that the authority to appoint professors rests with university governing councils, adding that the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, was responsible for Pantami’s appointment to the professorial rank.

“ASUU, as the most authoritative voice of Nigeria’s academic community, conducted a detailed investigative examination of Pantami’s appointment and documented serious concerns about the process and qualifications involved,” he stated.

Kala maintained that ASUU’s findings, released in 2021, should be considered because they questioned whether established academic standards and procedures were followed in the appointment.

He, however, acknowledged that the appointment remained valid because, according to him, the governing council had not formally revoked it.

“The question for voters is not whether the Governing Council had the authority to make the appointment. The question is whether the appointment was made through a process that reflects institutional integrity and adherence to established standards,” he said.

The ex-NUJ scribe further alleged that Pantami had only about one year of post-doctoral teaching experience at the time of his appointment as a professor.

He described this as significantly shorter than what he characterised as the conventional academic progression required for professorial appointments in Nigerian universities.

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He also alleged that Pantami did not rise through the traditional academic ranks of Senior Lecturer and Reader before attaining the professorial position.

According to him, “Traditional academic progression through Senior Lecturer and Reader ranks represents years of scholarly work, successful teaching, and administrative contribution.”

Kala equally raised concerns over the reported duration of the appointment process, claiming that it was concluded in about three months.

He alleged that important stages of academic assessment were either bypassed or inadequately conducted and questioned the availability of documents such as assessors’ reports and comprehensive publication records.

“This extraordinary compression raises questions about whether appropriate diligence was observed,” he said.

While insisting that governance requires institutional integrity, the former NUJ secretary-general said the controversy should not be viewed merely as an academic disagreement but as an issue relevant to the character and judgment required of anyone seeking to become governor.

He said a governor would be responsible not only for policy implementation and management of public resources but would also serve as a symbol of institutional standards within the state.

“Governance in Gombe State requires a leader committed to institutional integrity and established processes,” Kala stated.

He added that the state needed a leadership capable of addressing challenges in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development while maintaining transparency and accountability.

According to him, “A leader whose rise involved procedural irregularities documented by credible institutional authorities raises questions about whether that leader will similarly prioritise convenience over proper process when governing.”

Thus, Kala urged voters to subject candidates seeking the governorship in 2027 to thorough scrutiny, particularly regarding their records and demonstrated commitment to institutional standards.

He maintained that past conduct should be an important consideration when voters assess the likely approach of political candidates to governance.

“Gombe voters deserve a governor whose advancement was achieved through legitimate institutional processes, whose qualifications were fairly evaluated against established criteria, and whose respect for institutional standards is unambiguous,” he said.

He concluded that the concerns raised over Pantami’s professorial appointment warranted consideration by voters as they assess the candidates seeking to govern the state in 2027.