|
Listen to article
|
Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, has said he is “not afraid” of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Wike had said he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” Okinbaloye, over his comments that a one-party system would destroy democracy in Nigeria.
The minister’s remarks has attracted widespread condemnation, with Amnesty International accusing him of using “reckless and violent language”.
But Okinbaloye on Sunday doubled down on his views and said violent rhetorics have no place in a democracy.
He said: “The fact remains that our democracy is in danger if we allow one-way traffic in balloting.
“This is not a warning to the opposition or ruling party. But to all Nigerians who believe in the development of our nation.
“I received a call from the honourable minister, who clarified the intention was not as conveyed.
“While that is noted, it is important that violent rhetoric or threats are never appropriate responses to dissent in a democratic society.
Read Also: Wike Bows To Pressure, Clarifies Threat To Shoot Journalist
“Let me clear: I am not afraid and I will never be intimidated.
“We may disagree and as humans we may err, but dissent must never descend into hostility or harm.
“I will continue to do what I love, asking the necessary questions and holding power to account.”
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has clarified comments he made about Channels Television’s anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.
Wike had said he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” Okinbaloye, over his comments that a one-party system would destroy democracy in Nigeria.
The statement has attracted widespread condemnation, with Amnesty International describing the minister’s remarks as “reckless and violent”.
But in a statement signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike has explained that he did not mean it literally.
Read Also: ‘PDP Convention Will Hold Despite Court Threats’ – Wike Camp
The statement released by Olayinka on Saturday read: “The minister never meant that he will shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They even spoke on phone today, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what the minister meant.
“What the minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye, whom he hold in high esteem as a journalist, descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer.
“The statement made by the minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point.
“Even after the minister made the clarifications on the live television program, which had Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office as part of the interviewers, all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed.
“Therefore, after the minister detailed explanations of what he meant, including saying on the live television program that he didn’t mean that he will carry gun and shoot the television anchor, it will become a clear hatchet job for any individual or group to pick the statement out of context and make any issue out of it.
“The public is therefore urged to discontenance the use of the comment as instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for their political gains.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, says its 2026 convention will go ahead as planned, brushing off reported court threats and internal divisions in a firm show of control ahead of a crucial gathering.
The convention is a test of legitimacy and unity amid rival factions, legal uncertainty and competing claims that could shape the PDP’s path to 2027.
Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, spokesman of the NCWC, made the party’s position clear at a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, declaring that preparations were complete.
