By Nathaniel Irobi
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has condemned the protest that prevented the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, from proceeding to Yelwata community in Benue State on Tuesday.
Keyamo, who made his position known on Wednesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, however used the incident to accuse a section of the media of inconsistent reportage regarding political violence involving opposition figures and candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the minister acknowledged that the blockade of Obi’s convoy and the disruption of his humanitarian visit are unacceptable in a democracy, he drew attention to what he described as a double standard in media framing.
According to Keyamo, incidents where APC candidates are confronted by angry crowds are often dubbed “rejection by Nigerians,” while similar occurrences involving opposition figures are labelled “attack by sponsored thugs” or “hoodlums”.
The statement comes amid reports that Obi’s convoy was stopped along the Gboko-Makurdi Expressway on Tuesday morning while he was travelling to Yelwata to sympathise with families affected by the June 13, 2025 attack in which over 270 people were reportedly killed.
Obi had alleged that youths, led by an aide to Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, barricaded the road and prevented him from reaching the community. The protesters were reportedly chanting, “Peter Obi, go back,” while others were said to be armed with dangerous weapons.
The former Anambra State governor described the development as unacceptable, saying Nigerians should be able to visit communities affected by violence to offer sympathy and solidarity without being obstructed.
However, Keyamo argued in his post that the press must extricate itself from partisanship and be fair to all political parties.
He noted that opposition leaders have openly boasted that APC candidates cannot visit some parts of the country without being stoned or molested, yet the partisan press does not call out such statements.
“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” Keyamo wrote, calling on the media to adopt consistent standards in reporting political violence.
The Benue State chapter of the APC has denied any involvement in the incident, with its Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yaweh, stating that the party was not aware of any alleged attack and rejecting suggestions that it mobilised supporters to obstruct Obi’s movement.
The protest incident has continued to generate reactions across the country, with many condemning the obstruction of a humanitarian visit while also questioning the broader context of political violence and media reporting in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Government had not officially responded to Obi’s allegations that government officials were behind the road blockade.
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