‘I didn’t say I’d kill him’ — Wike addresses outrage over threat to ‘shoot’ Seun Okinbaloye

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he did not threaten to kill Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television, during a recent media chat.

Wike said his comment was figurative and had been misinterpreted.

On Friday, during a routine media chat, Wike said he was irked by Okinbaloye’s take on the trajectory of the nation’s democracy 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 had immediately clarified to the journalists present that his brief monologue did not literally translate to pulling the trigger on Okinbaloye.

On Saturday, Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications to Wike, said his principal’s comment on Okinbaloye was “hyperbolic” and had been taken out of context by propagandists.

‘I SPOKE FIGURATIVELY’

Speaking on Tuesday on the matter, the FCT minister reiterated that he never meant to kill the journalist with his comment.

“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… I was wondering, how can you descend so low? You’re an interviewer… you’re no longer interviewing your guests; you’re now saying this is what is going on; it’s not fair.”

Wike said his comment about breaking the television set was not a threat. He alleged that political opponents were amplifying the issue against him.

“I mean, people will capitalise on everything; those who I have defeated severally,” he said.

Wike also referenced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in his remarks.

“What do you expect someone like Atiku, who said I made him to fail election; he cannot be happy with me naturally,” he said.

He urged journalists to maintain professional standards and avoid publishing stories 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 said he believes the media will improve if journalists adhere to professional responsibility.
(The cable)