UPDATED: Keyamo Condemns Blockage of Peter Obi in Benue, Calls It ‘Unacceptable in Democracy’

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has condemned the blocking of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi by protesters in Benue State, calling it a dangerous threat to democracy.

Speaking with journalists, Keyamo said preventing Obi from reaching the venue of his planned visit must be condemned “irrespective of the identity or affiliation of those responsible.”

“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 stated.

The Minister acknowledged claims that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata a community that suffered deadly attacks  was politically motivated and triggered opposition from some protesters.

However, Keyamo insisted that grievances cannot justify denying a political leader freedom of movement.

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

Advertisement

Keyamo also took aim at sections of the media, accusing them of partisan reporting and applying different standards depending on the political party involved.

According to him, hostile crowds confronting APC candidates are often described as evidence of “rejection” by Nigerians. But when similar incidents happen to opposition politicians, they are 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.

Vanguard reports that the Minister further alleged that some opposition politicians have openly threatened APC candidates with attacks in certain parts of the country, and criticized the media for failing to adequately condemn such statements.

“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,” Keyamo said.

He urged supporters of all political parties to exercise restraint during the campaign season, stressing that political disagreements should be settled at the polls, not through violence.

Advertisement

“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.