IBAN issues ultimatum to Wike: Apologise to Seun Okinbaloye or face media blackout

The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has threatened to boycott all media engagements involving FCT Minister Nyesom Wike unless he issues a public apology for suggesting he would have “shot” Channels TV anchor Seun Okinbaloye.

The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has demanded a formal retraction and public apology from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following comments directed at Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye. During a recent media chat, Wike expressed his irritation with Okinbaloye’s analysis of Nigerian democracy, stating, “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.” Although the minister immediately clarified that his words were not literal, and his aide later dismissed the remark as “hyperbolic” and a target for “propagandists,” the umbrella body for independent broadcasters insists the utterance remains an inappropriate display of aggression from a public official.

In a statement signed by Chairman Ahmed Ramalan and Acting General Secretary Fidelis Duker, IBAN expressed grave concern that such rhetoric could be interpreted as a form of state-sponsored intimidation. The association noted that Nigeria currently ranks 122 out of 180 countries on the global press freedom index, arguing that such remarks contribute to a “hostile environment for media practitioners” who already face threats of surveillance and arbitrary arrest. IBAN urged the minister to reaffirm his commitment to the 1999 Constitution, specifically sections 22 and 39, which mandate the media to hold the government accountable and protect the right to freedom of expression.

The association has warned that it will initiate a total media blackout of the minister’s official activities if its demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe. According to the group, this would include a suspension of coverage for all press briefings and media chats hosted by the FCT ministry. The statement concluded: “Should the minister fail to meet these requests within a reasonable period, IBAN will have no choice but to advise all independent broadcast stations to suspend coverage of all press briefings, media chats, and official news conferences hosted by the FCT minister.”

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