Atiku: Wike's 'Shoot' Comment Was a Direct Threat, Not a Joke

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned what he described as a "disgraceful and dangerous threat" made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye. Abubakar, speaking through his media office on Saturday, characterized the minister's public statement on live television, expressing a desire to shoot a journalist for a professional opinion, as reckless. He asserted that this incident signals a concerning slide into intolerance, lawlessness, and overt abuse of authority by the current government.

According to Abubakar, the remark was unequivocally a "threat, clear, direct, and deeply sinister," and not a casual jest. He argued that when individuals in positions of authority resort to violent rhetoric against the press, it fundamentally jeopardizes democracy. The former Vice President views Wike's outburst as indicative of a broader, more perilous trend under the Bola Tinubu administration, where dissent is criminalized, criticism is met with hostility, and intimidation is becoming the standard approach to governance.

Abubakar further stated that in established democracies, such an utterance would typically lead to immediate resignation or dismissal. However, he observed that in contemporary Nigeria, such incidents are becoming disturbingly commonplace. He questioned the specific offense committed by Mr. Okinbaloye, noting that the journalist had merely cautioned against the progression towards a one-party system, yet received a violent threat in response instead of a reasoned argument. This, Abubakar contended, starkly illustrates the current state of governance.

"This is how democracies die, not only through stolen mandates or weakened institutions, but through the gradual normalisation of threats, fear, and the silencing of independent voices," the statement read. It also raised a critical question about the security of ordinary Nigerians if a prominent journalist can be so openly threatened on national television.

The Atiku Media Office unequivocally declared that this "reckless conduct is unacceptable and must not be allowed to stand." Consequently, they issued a demand for an immediate and unconditional public apology from Nyesom Wike to Seun Okinbaloye and the broader Nigerian media fraternity. They also called for a clear and public repudiation of this "dangerous rhetoric" by the Bola Tinubu administration, along with concrete assurances for the safety and protection of journalists throughout Nigeria.

Abubakar concluded by stating that failing to meet these demands would reinforce the widespread fear among Nigerians that the current government is not only intolerant of dissent but is increasingly comfortable employing the language and tools of repression.