NUJ Joins Calls for Public Apology from Wike over Threat to ‘Shoot’ Seun Okinbaloye

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has asked Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to tender an apology over a remark he made about Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television.

In a statement in Sunday signed by Alhassan Abdullahi, NUJ national president, the union said it had initially delayed responding, expecting the minister to retract the statement and issue an apology.

On Friday, during a routine media chat, Wike said he was unhappy with Okinbaloye’s remarks on the state of Nigeria’s democracy while watching Politics Today.

“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike said.

He explained to the journalists present that his comment was not meant as a literal threat against Okinbaloye.

On Saturday, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s senior special assistant on public communications, described the minister’s remark about Okinbaloye as “hyperbolic” and accused propagandists of twisting it out of context.

However the NUJ said it was “shocked and outraged” by Wike’s remark, adding that the absence of any clarification or remorse suggests the comment was deliberate.

“The minister’s statement constitutes a direct attempt to intimidate and silence the press, and undermines press freedom and democratic principles,” the statement reads.

The NUJ added that such comments from a senior government official could create a climate of fear for journalists and discourage critical reporting.

The union urged the federal government to condemn the remark and take steps to protect journalists and uphold media independence.

The NUJ further called on media organisations and civil society groups to stand in solidarity in defence of press freedom.

“It sends a dangerous message that journalists could face hostility or threats for doing their job, which is unacceptable in a democratic society,” the union added.