By Peace Udugba
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused some Nigerian media organisations of applying double standards in their coverage of political violence, warning that biased reporting could heighten political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Keyamo’s comments followed the circulation of video footage showing individuals identified as members or supporters of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) allegedly brandishing cutlasses, guns and other dangerous weapons in Lagos while wearing the party’s insignia.
The incident generated controversy over claims that the individuals were responding to an attack. However, Keyamo questioned what he described as the media’s silence over the footage, insisting that all individuals involved in political violence should be held accountable, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The minister spoke on Friday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
He accused sections of the media of treating similar incidents differently depending on whether the individuals involved belonged to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or opposition parties.
Referring to the earlier controversy involving an APC chieftain, Fadahunsi, who was reportedly invited by the Department of State Services (DSS), Keyamo questioned why the media had not demonstrated similar concern over the individuals allegedly seen carrying weapons in Lagos.
“In Osun State, I remember what Fadahunsi went through. The press virtually choked, intimidated and harassed him, until he was invited by DSS or something. Fair enough! Now, everybody has seen the faces of those carrying cutlasses, guns, and whatever dangerous weapons, brandishing NDC, NDC vests. Where is the outrage this morning by the press?” he asked.
Keyamo also challenged the narrative that the individuals involved were merely defending themselves, citing footage of one of the persons arrested in connection with the incident.
According to him, the arrested individual claimed that nobody sent him to the scene and described his presence as part of the usual activities of street boys in Lagos.
“Even the person they arrested, I saw footages of when they allowed the press, I think, these television houses to put a microphone on his mouth. The man was on the ground crying. And they said who sent you? He said, nobody sent me. That is the culture of Lagos. Go to anywhere in Lagos where there is a gathering. It is a fact that the Alaye boys must come around and look for money,” he said.
The minister suggested that the confrontation might have resulted from a disagreement with local street boys around the venue of the NDC town hall meeting in Ikeja.
He, however, maintained that he did not support the practice of carrying weapons or engaging in violent confrontations.
“It’s a street tradition. I don’t support it, but that’s it,” he added.
The minister further accused some media organisations of describing attacks involving opposition members as the activities of political thugs while presenting similar incidents involving APC supporters as reactions by angry Nigerians.
He argued that such differences in reporting contributed to the growing political tension in the country.
“When it is flipped now, and I condemn it, that opposition members are being attacked in some parts of this country, then the rhetoric is not that the opposition has been rejected. That is why the whole thing is blowing up now because certain opposition members have been attacked. And now it is no longer angry Nigerians, it is now thugs,” Keyamo said.
He also recalled incidents in which President Bola Tinubu’s campaign posters were allegedly destroyed in some parts of the country, claiming that some media organisations celebrated the developments as expressions of public anger.
According to him, the media should avoid promoting inflammatory narratives capable of escalating political disagreements.
Keyamo also cited an incident in Asaba, Delta State, where a politician’s convoy was reportedly attacked, followed by a retaliatory action that resulted in the death of an individual.
He faulted the media’s handling of the incident, alleging that reports focused more on the attack on the NDC and the destruction of vehicles than on the loss of human life.
The minister further claimed that the deceased was later identified as a commercial tricycle operator and not an APC member, contrary to the impression created in some reports.
“I’ll tell you one very annoying thing that happened two weeks ago in Asaba when the convoy of a certain politician was attacked. In the process, they retaliated and killed somebody who later have been found out not to be an APC member but it had been blown up as if he were an APC member. Now it was found out that he was just a Keker rider or something,” he said.
He added that the headlines following the incident concentrated on the alleged attack on the NDC rather than the killing.
Describing the development as an example of what he called dirty politics by some sections of the media, Keyamo urged journalists and media organisations to uphold fairness, balance and professionalism in their coverage of political activities.
“I want to educate members of the public the kind of dirty politics the press, some member, I repeat, not all, some section of the press play. So, I am calling on the press to be fair, to be just, to be balanced to all, and to lower the temperature,” he said.
He also acknowledged that some APC members had been involved in promoting violent rhetoric, stressing that neither the ruling party nor the opposition should be exempted from criticism.
“Not all members of the All Progressive Congress are free from blame on this. I agree with you that certain members of the APC and certain jurisdictions have also been found guilty of promoting violent rhetoric. So I admit that,” he stated.
On the responsibility of security agencies in preventing electoral violence, Keyamo called on law enforcement personnel to remain neutral and act professionally, regardless of the political affiliations of those involved.
He alleged that some security operatives could be influenced by financial inducements from politicians and urged them to resist such pressures.
“Security agents must be proactive and must be like the lady justice that is blind. Their role must be to keep the peace. Their role must be to ensure that there is law and order, and not to support the ruling party or the opposition party,” he said.
Keyamo also defended his support for former President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive during the 2019 general elections that anyone attempting to snatch ballot boxes with weapons would pay with their lives.
He explained that the directive was intended for security agencies legally empowered to maintain law and order, not ordinary citizens or political supporters.
According to him, security operatives have the authority to neutralise armed individuals posing an immediate threat to lives and property, but citizens must not take the law into their own hands.
“It is only the law enforcement agents that should be armed, which is what I said in 2019. I repeat it. I support it. I stand by it,” he declared.
The minister reiterated that security agencies must discharge their constitutional responsibilities without political interference, adding that anyone found carrying dangerous weapons or engaging in acts of violence should be arrested, irrespective of party affiliation.
