The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has accused the media of partisanship after some protesters prevented the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from entering Benue State on Tuesday.

According to him, the protest could have resulted from internal squabbles within the NDC (as posited by the Benue State Government).

Keyamo also said the protest could have been sponsored by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or another rival party, which should not be part of Nigeria's democracy.

He said, "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.

"However, 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’. Just check most headlines today.

"This is what is unacceptable. In fact, many opposition leaders openly boasts 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 do not call out such leaders and even help 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."

ASA