By Deborah Nnamdi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has come under heavy criticism from civil society groups, media organisations, and opposition figures over a controversial remark in which he said he would have “shot” a television anchor during a live broadcast.
The backlash followed comments made by the minister during a media parley in Abuja, where he reacted to remarks by Seun Okinbaloye, an anchor on Channels Television’s programme Politics Today. Okinbaloye had raised concerns about Nigeria potentially drifting towards a one-party state amid internal crises within the opposition African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding, Wike said, “If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a statement that immediately 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 senior public official could incite attacks on journalists and undermine press freedom. The organisation called on the minister to withdraw the statement and issue a public apology.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the comment, describing it as a direct threat to the safety of media practitioners. NUJ President, Alhassan Yahaya, expressed concern over what he termed a dangerous precedent, urging the minister to retract the statement or face possible action from the union.
The criticism also drew a response from the media office of Atiku Abubakar, which described Wike’s comment as “disgraceful and dangerous,” warning that such rhetoric signals growing intolerance and poses a threat to democratic values.
A coalition of civil society and media organisations, including the International Press Institute, Media Rights Agenda, Enough is Enough Nigeria, and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, also condemned the statement. In a joint response, the groups warned that violent rhetoric directed at journalists fosters a climate of fear and weakens democratic discourse.
Opposition voices further amplified the criticism, with the spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, describing the comment as “irresponsible and unacceptable,” and calling on defenders of free speech to speak out.
The controversy has also triggered widespread reactions on social media, where activists, including Rinu Oduala and Deji Adeyanju, criticised the remark as reckless and indicative of growing hostility towards the media.
However, Wike’s office has downplayed the controversy, insisting that the statement was not intended as a literal threat. His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, described the comment as “hyperbolic” and taken out of context, noting that the minister had since spoken with Okinbaloye and clarified his position.
Olayinka explained that Wike’s reaction stemmed from frustration over what he perceived as a deviation from professional neutrality by the anchor, adding that the remark was an exaggeration meant to express displeasure rather than a call to violence.
Despite the clarification, critics maintain that such language from a public official is inappropriate and dangerous, urging stronger safeguards to protect press freedom and democratic values in Nigeria.
