The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he did not threaten to kill Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television, during a recent media chat.
Wike explained that his remark was figurative and had been misunderstood.
During a media session on Friday, he reacted to Okinbaloye’s views on Nigeria’s democratic direction while watching “Politics Today”, a Channels Television programme.
“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike had said.
He immediately clarified at the time that the statement was not meant to be taken literally.
On Saturday, Lere Olayinka, his senior special assistant on public communications, described the remark as “hyperbolic” and said it had been taken out of context by “propagandists.”
Speaking again on Tuesday, the FCT minister insisted that he never intended any harm toward the journalist.
“You can imagine what happened in our media chat; people just capitalise on things, even when I explained there that look, I didn’t say I would kill him,” Wike said.
“All I was trying to explain, figuratively, look, I was wondering, how can you descend so low? You’re an interviewer.’
“How do you now begin to say something that I… you’re no longer interviewing your guests; you’re not saying this is what is going on; it’s not fair.”
Wike added that his reference to breaking a television screen was not a threat.
“So that’s why I said, if I can break the TV, how can you break the TV and kill someone?” he queried.
He further alleged that political opponents were exploiting the situation to criticise him.
“I mean, people will capitalise on everything; those who I have defeated severally, then they will come and say, ‘do this, do this,’” he said.
Wike also mentioned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that political rivalry may be fuelling the backlash.
“What do you expect like Atiku, who said I made him to fail election, he cannot be happy with me naturally,” he said.
He urged journalists to uphold professional standards and avoid publishing reports they cannot defend.
“So, the media should not be used; stand firm. If you believe what you are saying is correct, stand firm,” he said.
“If you know that it is not conscience, you don’t need to bring such stories out, because you don’t know the danger or the damage you have caused.”
Wike expressed confidence that media practice would improve if journalists adhere to ethical responsibility.
“I believe that we will get it right if you continue to do what you are supposed to do,” he added.