Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has come under intense criticism from rights groups and political actors following a controversial remark in which he said he could ‘shoot’ a television anchor during a live broadcast – comments that have sparked concerns over press freedom and political intolerance.
The backlash followed Wike’s reaction to statements made by Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television, who had raised concerns about a potential one-party state while discussing the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
During a media chat in Abuja, Wike, visibly displeased, said, “If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a comment that quickly drew widespread condemnation.
Amnesty International Nigeria described the minister’s language as “reckless and violent,” warning that such rhetoric could embolden attacks on journalists and undermine democratic norms. According to the organisation, statements of that nature – especially from a senior government official j risk normalising violence against media practitioners and contravene Nigeria’s broadcasting standards. It called on Wike to immediately withdraw the remark and issue a public apology.
Similarly, the media team of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, led by Paul Ibe, condemned the statement as “reckless, dangerous, and unacceptable”. The Atiku Media Office argued that the comment reflects a growing intolerance for dissent under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that such rhetoric threatens press freedom and democratic values.
“For a serving minister to publicly express a desire to shoot a journalist over a professional opinion is a chilling signal,” the statement read, insisting that the remark should not be dismissed as a joke or casual banter.
The group further called for an unconditional apology to Okinbaloye and the Nigerian media, urging the federal government to repudiate the statement and guarantee the safety of journalists.
Amid the growing controversy, Wike moved to clarify his comments, insisting they were not intended as a literal threat.
His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the minister merely used exaggeration to express frustration during the discussion. “The minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye…The statement was made in a hyperbolic context, without intent”, Olayinka said.
He added that Wike and Okinbaloye had since spoken by phone and resolved any misunderstanding, noting that the minister held the journalist in high regard but was displeased with what he perceived as a shift from neutral journalism to political commentary. Olayinka also maintained that Wike clarified his statement during the live broadcast, and that journalists present at the session understood the context, even reacting with laughter after the explanation.
Despite the clarification, the incident has ignited broader debate about the tone of political discourse in Nigeria and the safety of journalists, particularly as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections.
