By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has accused thugs loyal to the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC of unleashing violence in his community in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, vowing to petition the Inspector-General of Police IGP this week over the incident.
Keyamo, in a post on his X handle, said he wanted “the world to see what the NDC’s thugs came to my community in Effurun, Uvwie LGA of Delta State, to do on Friday, 18th September, 2026.”
He alleged that the thugs “wrecked havoc on billboards pasted everywhere by Tompolo’s door-to-door Campaign Organisation, entered people’s shops with dangerous weapons and looted the shops.”
The minister lamented what he described as a double standard in public reactions to political violence, saying that “if it had been the other way round against the APC, the section of the bias Press and so-called human rights groups would have been screaming to high heavens, but since this happened, everywhere is mute.”
Drawing a comparison with an earlier incident, Keyamo said, “this is the exact point I made when I openly condemned the blockade of Peter Obi’s entourage from entering Benue State. But what happened in Benue is nothing compared to this.”
He described the situation as sickening, adding, “the double standards everywhere is sickening. The video is clear and the evidence is overwhelming. We have more evidence. The thugs were even accompanied by law-enforcement agents in their payroll.”
The minister, who described himself as the foremost political leader in the community, said he would not let the matter slide, stating, “I have warned everyone not to resort to self-help.”
He announced plans to escalate the matter to the police, saying, “I will be submitting a petition to the Inspector General of Police this week to thoroughly investigate this incident and bring all those found wanting to book (even against APC leaders, if anyone crossed the line).”
Keyamo also called for disciplinary action against law enforcement agents allegedly complicit in the incident, adding, “disciplinary action should also be taken against those law-enforcement agents in their midst that condoned the looting and destruction of properties.”
Keyamo further signalled a firmer resolve going forward, declaring, “some of us are now ready for the long haul!”
