Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is presently under harsh criticism from media outlets, opposition leaders, and civil society organisations for his contentious statement that he would have “shot” a television anchor during a live broadcast.
The criticism came after Wike responded to a statement made by Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye on the show Politics Today during a media parley in Abuja.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Okinbaloye had expressed concerns about the potential for Nigeria to become a one-party state due to the African Democratic Congress’s leadership instability and its effects on alternative politics.
Responding, Wike said, “If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a statement that has since sparked widespread outrage.
Amnesty International Nigeria was among the first to condemn the remark, describing it as “reckless and violent,” and warning that such rhetoric from a high-ranking public official could incite attacks on journalists and erode press freedom.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation said, “What Wike said carries the danger of normalising violence and encouraging the targeting of journalists for just doing their job. This level of violent intent coming from a member of Nigeria’s federal cabinet is unlawful and unacceptable.”
It further stated that the remark was in violation of Nigeria’s broadcasting regulations and called on the minister to immediately retract the comments and apologise in public.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists also denounced the statement, characterising it as a direct danger to press freedom and media professionals’ safety.
NUJ President Alhassan Yahaya voiced concerns over what he called a risky precedent in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.
“We demand that Wike retract that statement immediately and issue an apology to Seun Okinbaloye, or the NUJ will take decisive action,” he added.
Additionally, the Atiku Media Office released a sharply worded statement characterising Wike’s remark as “disgraceful and dangerous” and pointing to a larger trend of intolerance within the current administration.
Wike’s ‘shoot’ remark is hyperbole – aide
Following harsh condemnation, the FCT Minister’s office has attempted to minimise the uproar, claiming that the statement was not meant to be taken literally.
Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, stated in a statement that the remark was “hyperbolic” and out of context.
“The minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They have since spoken on the phone, and the journalist understood what was meant,” Olayinka said.
He pointed out that Wike’s reaction was borne out of frustration with what he perceived as the anchor’s deviation from professional neutrality.
“What the minister meant was that he was angry seeing a journalist he holds in high esteem descend into the political arena by expressing a personal opinion instead of maintaining the detachment expected of an interviewer,” he added.
‘I don’t mean it’ – Wike
The FCT Minister has bowed to pressure, clarifying his comments he made about Channels Television’s anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.
