‘It’s Really Unfortunate’ – Wike Clarifies Threat To Shoot Seun Okinbaloye

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that the remark threatening to shoot Channels Television’s news anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, is a figure of speech.

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Naija News recalls that the comment came after Okinbaloye, during the ‘Politics Today’ programme, remarked that a one-party system could destroy democracy in Nigeria.

Reacting, Wike said he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” Okinbaloye, a statement that drew widespread condemnation from many political elites, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, broadcasters, Amnesty International, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Addressing the backlash over his controversial statement, Wike, while speaking on News Central on Monday, explained that the remark was a reflection of his frustration.

Wike stressed that it is unfortunate that many Nigerians blow everything out of context.

He said, “It’s really unfortunate, you know, in Nigeria people blow everything out of context, particularly playing politics with everything,

“Anybody who knows my relationship with Seun will not begin to rant.

“It’s a figure of speech that explains how angry I was. I’ve spoken to him; we have no problem. He said he understands everything.”

Meanwhile, the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has asked Wike, to retract a controversial remark he made about Okinbaloye.

IBAN, the umbrella body for independent broadcast stations in Nigeria, also warned that it may boycott all media engagements organised by the minister if he fails to issue a public apology.

In a statement signed by Ahmed Ramalan, IBAN Chairman, and Fidelis Duker, Acting General Secretary, the association expressed concern about the implications of the comment aired during a live television interview.