Wike must tender apology over ‘threat’ to shoot journalist – Atiku Media Office

The Atiku Media Office has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to tender a public apology over his “threat” against Channels Television presenter, Seun Okinbaloye.

The ex-Vice President’s media team spoke in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

It said Wike’s action reflects a growing intolerance for dissent under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The statement described the minister’s comment as reckless and unacceptable, stressing that such rhetoric from a serving government official poses a threat to press freedom and democratic values.

“For a serving minister of the Federal Republic to publicly declare on live television that he wished to shoot a journalist over a professional opinion is not just reckless.

“it is a chilling signal of how far this government has descended into intolerance, lawlessness, and naked abuse of power,” the statement said.

It added that the comment should not be dismissed as a joke or banter, insisting that it amounted to a direct and disturbing threat against a journalist performing his professional duties.

The media team noted that when public officials begin to use violent language against members of the media, it sends a dangerous signal about the state of democracy in the country.

The statement added that the incident reflects a broader pattern under the Tinubu administration where criticism is met with hostility and intimidation.

“What crime did Mr. Okinbaloye commit? He dared to warn against the creeping danger of a one-party state. For this, a minister of the republic responded not with reason, but with a threat of violence,” be statement said.

The Atiku media office further warned that normalizing threats against journalists could undermine democratic institutions and embolden attacks on press freedom.

It therefore called for an immediate and unconditional public apology from Wike to Okinbaloye and the Nigerian media community.

The office also urged the Tinubu administration to publicly repudiate the minister’s remarks and provide assurances for the safety and protection of journalists across the country.

“Anything short of this will confirm what many Nigerians already fear—that this government is increasingly comfortable with the language and instruments of repression,” the statement added.

Wike must tender apology over ‘threat’ to shoot journalist – Atiku Media Office