Wike’s ‘shoot’ statement: Opposition making mountain out of a molehill, by Kola Amzat

Following the de-recognition of David Mark-led national executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Seun Okinbaloye, while anchoring Channels TV’s Politics last Thursday, expressed concern over the consequences of Nigeria transiting into a one-party state.

He affirmed: “I am particularly distressed because what makes the elections very interesting is when it is competitive, not when only one party stands in the middle of the ballot.

“There are a lot of experienced men in the ADC…particularly, it (ADC) looks like one of the hopes of the opposition going into 2027,” the journalist said.

 “If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically.”

In his reaction, Mr Wike said he would have shot Mr Okinbaloye for allegedly taking a position on the issue of a one-party state and the ADC leadership crisis.

“I was surprised yesterday (Thursday); I was totally surprised when I was watching Politics Today. Seun (Okinbaloye), if there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” the FCT minister said.

The Minister, contended that, as a journalist, Mr Okinbaloye was not supposed to present his personal opinion, maintaining that such conduct is unprofessional.

“You are an interviewer; you are now telling them your own views… which means you have already taken a position,” he stated.

Minister Wike and Seun Okinbaloye’s individual pronouncements at different platforms are what have taken the centre stage in the political sphere in the last few days, with unnecessary fury and anger from ‘expected’ quarters as if heaven would fall.

The Minister’s clarification that he had no intention to physically harm Mr Okinbaloye, and that his expression was borne out of anger over the journalist’s conduct fell on deaf ears as it has not assuaged the already bottled anger of those who have resolved to make unnecessary issues  out of the statement described simply as figure of speech.

The media team of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over what it described as a reckless remark directed at Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye, demanding a public apology.

Atiku Media Office said the minister’s comment reflects what it termed a growing intolerance for dissent under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The statement described the remark as unacceptable and dangerous, warning that such rhetoric from a serving public official threatens press freedom and undermines democratic values.

“For a serving minister of the Federal Republic to publicly declare on live television that he wished to shoot a journalist over a professional opinion is not just reckless.

“It is a chilling signal of how far this government has descended into intolerance, lawlessness, and naked abuse of power,” the statement said.

It noted that when public officials resort to violent language against members of the media, it sends a dangerous signal about the state of democracy in the country.

It, therefore, called for an immediate and unconditional apology from Wike to Okinbaloye and the Nigerian media community, while urging the Tinubu administration to publicly repudiate the minister’s remarks and guarantee the safety of journalists across the country.

“Anything short of this will confirm what many Nigerians already fear — that this government is increasingly comfortable with the language and instruments of repression,” the statement added.

What else did Nigerians expect from Atiku Abubakar and members of ADC other than attempting to take their pound off Wike’s flesh?

Nigerians recollect that it was Wike who practically frustrated Atiku Abubakar’s bid for presidency during the 2023 presidential elections.

It’s the same Wike who sent the former vice president packing from PDP, even with his stupendous wealth, northern reach and influence.

Equally, it’s the former Rivers governor that has almost cripple the ADC, the new party hijacked by Atiku and his cohorts. The FCT minister ensured that ADC got completely drowned in the recently conducted FCT local council elections, as well as bye elections in Rivers state.

And, the Minister has declared that the frantic efforts of the party during the subsequent elections would continue to pale into insignificance, as they don’t have the requisite structure, logistics, spread and national appeal to make any serious impact in any election.

Rather than dissipating energy and their efforts in attempting to wriggle out on the challenge of DERECOGNITION of the key factional officers of ADC by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a development that would completely strike them off the ballot in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, ADC and the key financier have chosen to dance to the gallery, pursuing shaft, instead of substance.     

It’s also instructive that the stance of Atiku Abubakar and his team has emboldened other adversaries to render similar negative statements.    

Suddenly, Amnesty International found its voice after months of inactivity, ordering the FCT minister to withdraw the statement as according to them, the remarks were reckless and violent.

The human rights group explained that the remarks from the FCT minister violated Nigeria’s broadcasting code.

It noted that the National Broadcasting Commission is tasked to enforce the code.

“What Wike said carries the danger of normalizing violence and encouraging the targeting of journalists for just doing their job.

“This level of violent intent coming from a member of Nigeria’s federal cabinet is unlawful and unacceptable,” The International body affirmed.

Civil Society Organizations were not left behind. After months of being in the doldrums, they’ve suddenly woken up from their slumber, threatening Armageddon, unless the minister withdraws the statement, as well as apologize.

In a statement signed by 14 organisations, the network demanded that Wike retract his remarks, apologise to Okinbaloye and the media community, and “reaffirm a clear commitment to non-violence and the defence of press freedom as a public official on oath to abide with the constitution”.

It’s important to emphasize that the minister at the centre of action has no history of violence since he got launched into national prominence.

Even back there in his political domain in Rivers as Chairman of Local Government, Chief of Staff to a governor and governor of the state for 8 years, it’s never recorded against him that he shot anyone.

In the last 10 years that the Minister Wike has been in the national consciousness as Minister of State for Education, as well as Minister supervising FCT ministry under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan regime, and his present assignment as substantive Minister in charge of Federal Capital Territory, what the former Rivers governor is noted for, is high level politicking, frankness, patriotism, courage, statesmanship and will to tread where others fear to operate.

It’s against this backdrop that the barrage of attacks and assaults on him by all who were waiting for opportune time to put him in Golgotha is unfortunate, unwarranted, reckless, undeserving and exercise in bad faith and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),

09077509348, [email protected]