Obi’s Blockade: Keyamo Tells Media to Stop Political Partisanship

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has accused sections of the media of applying double standards in their coverage of political protests involving candidates of different political parties.

Keyamo made the allegation while reacting to the blockade of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, by protesters during his visit to Benue State.

The minister alleged that similar incidents were described differently depending on the political party involved, with protests against All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates sometimes portrayed as evidence of public rejection, while those involving opposition politicians were reported as attacks by sponsored thugs or hoodlums.

“When it concerns the opposition, then it is ‘attack’ by ‘sponsored thugs’ or ‘hoodlums’. Just check most headlines today,” he said.

Obi’s convoy was reportedly blocked by protesters during his visit to Yelwata, a community that suffered deadly attacks, with the crowd preventing him and his delegation from proceeding to the venue.

Keyamo said the incident itself was unacceptable, regardless of who was responsible or the political circumstances surrounding the protest.

“Whether the protest was as a result of internal squabbles within the NDC, as posited by the Benue State Government, or sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, APC, or any other rival party, this should not be part of our democracy,” he said.

The Benue State Government had attributed the protest to Obi’s failure to formally notify the state government of his planned visit, while also suggesting that the incident could have stemmed from internal disagreements within the NDC.

Keyamo acknowledged claims that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata was politically motivated and had triggered opposition from some protesters.

However, he maintained that such grievances did not justify restricting Obi’s movement.

“That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference,” Keyamo said.

The minister also alleged that some opposition politicians had threatened attacks against APC candidates visiting certain parts of the country or openly identifying with the party.

He criticised sections of the media for failing to adequately challenge or condemn such statements, insisting that the press should apply the same standards to all political parties.

“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The Press must extricate itself from such partisanship and be fair to all,” the minister said.

Keyamo called on political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint during campaigns, urging Nigerians to resolve political disagreements through democratic means.

He said voters who opposed any candidate should express their dissatisfaction at the polls rather than through violence.

“Whoever is angry at any candidate of any political party should display the anger with the ballot paper on voting day by a simple thumbprint, not by violent acts during campaigns,” Keyamo cautioned.

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