Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a caution to Nigerians regarding the use of inflammatory language in political debates, stating it has the potential to provoke violence.
This warning comes in the wake of the killing of American political commentator, Charlie Kirk. The founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA was shot and killed outside an event in Arizona on Thursday, an event that has intensified discussions in the U.S. about political violence.
In a post on social media, Keyamo characterized the murder as a "sober lesson" for Nigeria. He expressed that aggressive statements made during political arguments online can inadvertently incite individuals to take drastic measures.
The Minister advised citizens to refrain from making threats or using hate speech, noting that anyone could become a target of such hostility. He stated that using intimidation or personal attacks in a debate is a sign of intellectual failure and cowardice, not strength.
Keyamo clarified that his appeal for more respectful and issue-based political discourse is a general one, aimed at all sides of the political spectrum and not targeted at any specific group. He emphasized that in a democracy, compelling agreement through fear is unacceptable.
He concluded by urging the country to foster a political environment that avoids heated rhetoric, which can sometimes have tragic consequences.
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