Keyamo: Politicians Scurrying their Children Abroad, Stoking Election Violence at Home

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says some “unscrupulous” politicians are encouraging “hapless” citizens and thugs to take up weapons under the pretext of “protecting their votes”.

In a statement published via X on Tuesday, Keyamo said such politicians have taken their children abroad.

The aviation minister referenced the warning issued to ballot box snatchers by late former President Muhammadu Buhari in the buildup to the 2019 elections.

Keyamo warned that law enforcement agencies would be within their rights to take action against such politicians.

“After safely ferrying their children abroad, some unscrupulous politicians are encouraging hapless citizens and thugs to take up weapons to kill one another under the pretext of ‘protecting their votes’. That’s fine,” Keyamo said.

“Let me reiterate what late President Buhari said pre-2019 election (which I supported and I still support): when you resort to self-help and you take up dangerous weapons in the guise of ‘protecting your votes’ and you attack anybody, it is lawful and legitimate for law enforcement agents to ‘neutralise’ you or simple ‘put you down’ in the course of their duty.

“And the children of the politicians will be watching your foolishness from their safe haven somewhere in the world.”

During an emergency meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on February 18, 2019, Buhari said anyone planning to snatch ballot boxes during that year’s presidential poll would do so “at the expense of his own life”.

Buhari said he had directed the military and police to be ruthless.

The then-president’s remarks elicited controversy on the stipulated punishment for ballot box snatchers.