By: Chinedu Echianu
A coalition of press freedom and civil society organisations has criticised comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a live television interview.
The organisations described the remarks as inappropriate and potentially threatening to journalists.
The groups, including the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), and YIAGA Africa, made their position known in a joint statement issued on Saturday.
The reaction follows remarks made by Wike during a live broadcast on Friday, April 3, 2026, where, in response to questions on the interviewing style of Seun Okinbaloye, anchor of Politics Today, said: “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
Although the minister later clarified that the comment was not intended as a literal threat, the groups said the statement amounted to intimidation of a journalist, regardless of intent.
According to the coalition, such language contributes to a climate of fear and undermines press freedom, warning that conditional or hypothetical expressions of violence should not be dismissed as harmless.
They further noted that hostile rhetoric from public officials risks weakening democratic accountability by discouraging critical journalism and increasing self-censorship among media practitioners.
The statement also references broader concerns about media safety in Nigeria, stating that the country ranks 122 out of 180 on the global press freedom index, with journalists frequently facing harassment, surveillance, and arrests, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
The groups called on the minister to retract the statement, issue a public apology to Seun Okinbaloye and the wider media community, and reaffirm commitment to respectful engagement with journalists.
They also urged public officials to avoid inflammatory remarks and uphold constitutional protections guaranteeing freedom of expression and the press, as outlined in Sections 22 as well as 39 of the Nigerian Constitution.
