Taken out of proportion – Wike addresses backlash over 'shoot' comment

Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, has clarified his contentious statement about Seun Okinbaloye, a Channels TV anchor, stating that those acquainted with their relationship would recognize it was not a threat.

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Wike made this assertion during a Monday interview on News Central, characterizing the backlash as overstated and motivated by politics, while emphasizing that his remark was not meant to be taken literally.

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He expressed disappointment that in Nigeria, people often take things out of context, particularly when politics is involved, and that anyone familiar with his relationship with Okinbaloye would not misinterpret his comment.

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Wike described his statement as a figure of speech to convey his anger, and felt that Okinbaloye should have reached out to him privately before the issue became a public debate.

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The minister criticized Okinbaloye for not seeking answers privately before making the issue public, asking how a journalist could stoop so low as to not ask questions and seek answers before informing the public.

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Despite the controversy, Wike stated that the matter had been resolved, and that he and Okinbaloye had spoken, with no lingering dispute between them.

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Wike confirmed that he had discussed the issue with Okinbaloye, and was confident that the journalist understood the context of his comment, and that there was no problem between them.

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The controversy started with comments Wike made at a media parley in Abuja, where he responded to Okinbaloye's remarks on a Channels Television programme discussing the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress and its potential impact on opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

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During the broadcast, Okinbaloye had expressed concerns about Nigeria potentially becoming a one-party state, a view Wike deemed inappropriate for a journalist to express, as it was not neutral.

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Lere Olayinka, Wike's aide, had previously described the minister's comment as hyperbolic, stating it was a reaction to Okinbaloye venturing into political commentary instead of maintaining neutrality.

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Okinbaloye stated on Sunday that he would not be intimidated, acknowledging that Wike had contacted him to clarify that the remark was not intended as conveyed, and warned against the use of inflammatory language in a democratic society.