Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has clarified his controversial remarks regarding Channels TV anchor Seun Okinbaloye, asserting that his comments about “shooting” the journalist were hyperbolic and intended only to critique the anchor’s perceived lack of neutrality.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has addressed the significant backlash following controversial remarks directed at Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye. Wike had previously sparked widespread outrage by suggesting he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” Okinbaloye in response to the journalist’s commentary regarding the potential for a one-party system to destroy Nigerian democracy. The comments were swiftly condemned by human rights groups, with Amnesty International labeling the minister’s rhetoric as “reckless and violent.”
In a clarifying statement released on Saturday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the minister insisted that the remarks were never intended to be taken literally. Olayinka explained that “The statement made by the minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent,” noting that the minister was primarily using exaggeration to express his frustration. According to the aide, Wike was reacting to seeing Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high esteem, “descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer.”
The statement further revealed that Wike and Okinbaloye have since spoken via telephone to resolve the misunderstanding, asserting that the anchor “understood what the minister meant.” Olayinka also pointed out that other journalists present during the live media chat reacted with laughter at the time, suggesting the atmosphere was not one of genuine threat. The aide concluded that following the minister’s detailed explanation, it would be a “clear hatchet job for any individual or group to pick the statement out of context and make any issue out of it.”
READ THE FULL STORY IN DAILY POST