Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, SAN, has sharply criticised some journalists and vocal commentators, accusing them of projecting personal biases as the collective will of “the Nigerian people” as the nation prepares for the 2027 election season.
In a post shared on his official X account on Thursday, Keyamo challenged the legitimacy of claims by certain media figures and self-styled activists who, he said, speak on behalf of Nigerians without any clear mandate or evidence of broad public support.
“It is amusing to see how some journalists and core opposition characters, posing as ‘activists’, continually express their own deep-seated biases as the wishes of ‘the Nigerian people’,” Keyamo wrote, questioning how these individuals aggregate or validate the views they attribute to the wider population.
He suggested that some of the loudest voices may be drawn from a narrow segment of society — including small groups gathering outside the National Assembly, a handful of lawmakers opposing the majority position, and overly vocal commentators on television and social media — rather than reflecting a genuinely representative cross-section.
“Perhaps, by ‘the Nigerian people,’ they are referring to those usual suspects who gather at the entrance of the National Assembly and pose for cameras; or the 15 Senators who voted against the majority of 94 Senators; or the less than 25 Rep members who walked out on the majority of over 300 Rep members,”Keyamo wrote.
He also criticised what he described as the exaggerated influence of social media commentary, noting that “those who gather under the comment section on social media and vent their spleen” do not equate to the broader citizenry.
READ ALSO: Keyamo Blasts Orji Kalu, Says He’s Desperate For Media Attention
As Nigeria enters a critical election period, Keyamo urged citizens to remain alert, asserting that many commentators who present themselves as neutral are in fact aligned with specific interests, even if they do not openly declare their affiliations.
“Some journalists and almost every so-called ‘neutral’ commentator or activist you see or hear in the media are all working for one interest or the other; they just don’t have the guts to come out with their full chest to openly support the political party or candidate for which or whom they are working,” he said.
Keyamo’s remarks are likely to add fuel to ongoing debates about media partisanship, public discourse and the role of opinion leaders in shaping electoral narratives in Nigeria.
As pro-democracy advocates call for more transparent and inclusive conversations, his critique underscores the tensions that often erupt in politically charged environments.
Keyamo Accuses Media, Activists Of Misrepresenting Nigerian Public Opinion
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, SAN, has sharply criticised some journalists and vocal commentators, accusing them of projecting personal biases as the collective will of “the Nigerian people” as the nation prepares for the 2027 election season.
In a post shared on his official X account on Thursday, Keyamo challenged the legitimacy of claims by certain media figures and self-styled activists who, he said, speak on behalf of Nigerians without any clear mandate or evidence of broad public support.
“It is amusing to see how some journalists and core opposition characters, posing as ‘activists’, continually express their own deep-seated biases as the wishes of ‘the Nigerian people’,” Keyamo wrote, questioning how these individuals aggregate or validate the views they attribute to the wider population.
He suggested that some of the loudest voices may be drawn from a narrow segment of society — including small groups gathering outside the National Assembly, a handful of lawmakers opposing the majority position, and overly vocal commentators on television and social media — rather than reflecting a genuinely representative cross-section.
“Perhaps, by ‘the Nigerian people,’ they are referring to those usual suspects who gather at the entrance of the National Assembly and pose for cameras; or the 15 Senators who voted against the majority of 94 Senators; or the less than 25 Rep members who walked out on the majority of over 300 Rep members,”Keyamo wrote.
He also criticised what he described as the exaggerated influence of social media commentary, noting that “those who gather under the comment section on social media and vent their spleen” do not equate to the broader citizenry.
READ ALSO: Keyamo Blasts Orji Kalu, Says He’s Desperate For Media Attention
As Nigeria enters a critical election period, Keyamo urged citizens to remain alert, asserting that many commentators who present themselves as neutral are in fact aligned with specific interests, even if they do not openly declare their affiliations.
“Some journalists and almost every so-called ‘neutral’ commentator or activist you see or hear in the media are all working for one interest or the other; they just don’t have the guts to come out with their full chest to openly support the political party or candidate for which or whom they are working,” he said.
Keyamo’s remarks are likely to add fuel to ongoing debates about media partisanship, public discourse and the role of opinion leaders in shaping electoral narratives in Nigeria.
As pro-democracy advocates call for more transparent and inclusive conversations, his critique underscores the tensions that often erupt in politically charged environments.