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.
