Keyamo condemns Obi’s Benue blockade, calls for media neutrality

File: Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on the media to end what he described as partisan narratives in reporting political confrontations, following the reported blockade of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, in Benue State.

Keyamo, in a statement sent to our correspondent on Wednesday, condemned the incident, saying politicians should be allowed to move freely and campaign without intimidation or violence.

Obi was reportedly prevented by a group of youths from proceeding to Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where he had planned to visit families affected by the deadly June 2025 attack in the community.

The incident has since generated controversy, with Obi and his party alleging that the protesters were sponsored, while the Benue State Government denied involvement and said it was unaware of the visit.

The police in Benue also confirmed that they were aware of Obi’s movement and had provided security for the visit, but said the reason the youths blocked the convoy remained unknown and that the matter was being investigated.

The NDC had described the incident as unacceptable, alleging that suspected hired thugs blocked Obi’s convoy and prevented him from accessing Yelwata. The party said Obi had gone to the community to commiserate with families affected by the killings.

Reacting to the development, Keyamo said the incident should be condemned irrespective of the political affiliation of those responsible.

“Yesterday’s report of the prevention of the Presidential candidate of the NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, by some angry protesters from proceeding to the venue of his visit in Benue State must be condemned by all men of goodwill,” he said.

He said it was immaterial whether the protest was caused by internal disagreements within the NDC, as suggested by the Benue State Government, or whether it was allegedly sponsored by the APC or another rival political party.

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

The minister also rejected the argument that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata could have been politically motivated, saying such a consideration should not justify preventing him from accessing the community.

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“Some have also accused Obi of attempting to whip up fresh emotions by attempting to visit Yelwata, where the unfortunate killings happened more than a year ago, just for political reasons, hence the blockade. That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference,” he said.

The Yelwata attack of June 2025 was one of the deadliest incidents in Benue in recent years, with reports putting the death toll at more than 100. The community has remained a symbol of the insecurity confronting several parts of the state. Obi has previously visited other communities affected by attacks in Benue and called for stronger action to protect residents.

Keyamo, however, said the incident had also exposed what he described as inconsistent treatment of political confrontations by sections of the media.

“There is no better time to draw the attention of Nigerians and the world to the spin that the partisan section of the media usually puts on such incidents,” he said.

According to him, confrontations involving APC politicians are sometimes presented as evidence of public rejection, while similar incidents involving opposition politicians are described as attacks by sponsored thugs.

“Many a time when an angry crowd confronts or molests an APC candidate at any level, the partisan Press shamelessly dubs or spins it as ‘rejection’ by ‘Nigerians’. When it concerns the opposition, then it is an ‘attack’ by ‘sponsored thugs’ or ‘hoodlums’,” he said.

Keyamo argued that the media should apply the same standards to all political parties and candidates, regardless of their affiliations.

“This is what is unacceptable. In fact, many opposition leaders openly boast that the APC candidates cannot go to some parts of this country and shout ‘APC!’ without being ‘stoned’, ‘beaten’ or molested, yet the partisan Press does not call out such leaders and even helps to accentuate such statements,” he said.

“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 added.

Keyamo urged Nigerians to channel their political grievances through democratic processes rather than violence, stressing that elections provide citizens with the opportunity to reject candidates peacefully.

“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,” he said.