The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged the media to end partisan narratives in reporting political confrontations. This comes following the reported blockade of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, in Benue State.
Condemning the incident via a press statement, Keyamo stated that politicians should be allowed to move freely and campaign without intimidation or violence.
He added that the incident should be condemned irrespective of the political affiliation of those responsible.
His words, “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.
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.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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.”
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