Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied issuing any threat to Channels TV anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, insisting that his controversial remark was merely figurative and not intended to be taken literally.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, April 7, Wike said his earlier
comment was misinterpreted and taken out of context.
“You can
imagine what happened in our press conference. And people just, you see, people
just capitalise on things. Even when I explained there that, ‘look, it’s not
correct. I didn’t say I would kill him. All I was trying to explain is that
figuratively.
I was so
angry. How can you descend so low? You are an interviewer. How do you now begin
to say something that…you are no longer interviewing your guests… You are now
saying this is what is going on? It’s not fair.
If I can
break this…how can you break? I mean, how can? And people will capitalise on
everything. Those who have defeated several, then they will come under you and
say, look, do this, do this, do this,” he said.
The controversy stems from comments made during a media
parley on Friday, April 3, where Wike reacted to Okinbaloye’s analysis on
Politics Today.
In the course of his response, the minister said, “If there
was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a statement that drew
widespread backlash.
Addressing the issue, Wike maintained that the comment was
intended to convey frustration and not a physical threat.
Meanwhile, Okinbaloye, in a subsequent broadcast, insisted
on his refusal to succumb to intimidation, asserting that such rhetoric is
inappropriate in a democratic setting.
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