Wike's Aide Claims Minister's Threat to Shoot Okinbaloye Was Exaggerated Remark

Lere Olayinka, who serves as the media aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that the Minister had no intention of physically harming Seun Okinbaloye, the presenter for Channels Television's 'Politics Today.' The statement comes amidst significant criticism directed at Wike following his remarks about the journalist.

The controversy originated during a Wednesday broadcast of 'Politics Today,' where Okinbaloye voiced concerns regarding the state of Nigeria's political scene leading up to the 2027 elections. He emphasized that vibrant political competition is crucial for a healthy democracy, cautioning against a scenario where only a single political party remains dominant.

"What makes the race very interesting is when it’s competitive and not when only one party stands… If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically speaking,” Okinbaloye had stated, highlighting existing challenges within opposition parties.

In response during his monthly media interaction, Wike accused Okinbaloye of deviating from journalistic neutrality and adopting a partisan stance. "When I was watching Politics Today, Seun… If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike declared. He continued, “You are an interviewer; you are now telling them your own views… which means you have already taken a position.”

Wike's comments have drawn condemnation from various quarters, including human rights organizations, civil society groups, and political parties.

However, in a statement released on Saturday, Olayinka asserted that Wike’s remark was made in a "hyperbolic context" and accused critics of deliberately misinterpreting the situation for malicious purposes.

Olayinka revealed that Wike and Okinbaloye had spoken on the phone regarding the comment and that Okinbaloye understood the Minister's intent. "The minister’s comment is now being used as an instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for their political gains."

He further explained, "The minister never meant that he will shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They even spoke on the phone today, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what the minister meant."

According to Olayinka, Wike's frustration stemmed from observing Okinbaloye, whom he respects as a journalist, allegedly stepping into the political arena as a participant rather than an impartial interviewer. "What the minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat, was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high esteem as a journalist, descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer."

Olayinka characterized the statement as an instance of using exaggeration for emphasis. "The statement made by the minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point."

He also pointed out that journalists present during Wike's media chat, including Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office, laughed after Wike provided his explanation. "Even after the Minister made the clarifications on the live television program, which had Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office as part of the interviewers, all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed."

Olayinka concluded by stating that it would be disingenuous for any individual or group to take the statement out of context and sensationalize it, especially after Wike's explicit clarification on live television that he had no intention of harming the presenter. "Therefore, after the minister detailed explanations of what he meant, including saying on the live television program that he didn’t mean that he will carry gun and shoot the television anchor, it will become a clear hatchet job for any individual or group to pick the statement out of context and make any issue out of it."