Mr Macaroni Condemns FCT Minister Wike's Threat Against Channels TV Host

Popular comedian and activist, Debo Adebayo, widely known as Mr Macaroni, has publicly denounced the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, over his remarks directed at Channels Television presenter, Seun Okinbaloye. Wike had voiced that he would have "shot" Okinbaloye for questioning whether Nigeria was transitioning into a one-party state.

The controversial statement from the FCT Minister came during a media engagement where he reacted to Okinbaloye's commentary on Channels TV's 'Politics Today.' The journalist had raised concerns about the potential impact of a one-party system on Nigeria's democratic landscape, particularly in light of recent developments regarding the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

During the program, Okinbaloye had expressed his disquiet, stating, “I am particularly pained because what makes the race very interesting is when it is competitive, not only one party stands in the middle of the ballot and you’re looking for the rest of the political parties. When some of us talk, it looks like our mouth is smelling. And we have been on this ground for a while.

He further added, “There are a lot of experienced men in the ADC that should have seen the devil in some of the issues that have been raised in the past months. Particularly, it looks like one of the hopes of the opposition going into 2027. If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically.”

Responding to these remarks on Friday, April 3, Mr Wike stated that he would have taken drastic action against Okinbaloye. "If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him. How can an interviewer say we cannot allow a one-party state?" the minister questioned.

Wike elaborated on his reaction, saying, “You are now telling them your own view, as an interviewer, that you can’t allow a one-party state? I was just taken aback. I am not saying I will kill him. I am just angered that he made that kind of statement on national television. This is not the kind of journalism I have seen people do.”

In a strong reaction shared online, Mr Macaroni condemned Wike's statement. He wrote, "This is a so-called “serving” Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria saying in a live broadcast that he wished he could have shot and Killed a Nigerian Journalist. A country where public servants become tyrants because they know there is no consequence for impropriety."