By Uche Onyeali
Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has demanded an apology from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over a remark he made about a journalist with Channels Television, Seun Okinbaloye.
Reacting to the alleged threat in a statement on Sunday, the National President, NUJ, Alhassan Abdullahi said the union had initially delayed responding, while expecting the minister to retract the statement and issue an apology.
Wike had on Friday, during a routine media chat, said he was unhappy with Okinbaloye’s remarks on the state of Nigeria’s democracy during a television programme.
“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” the minister said.
However, Wike later explained that his comment was not meant as a literal threat against Okinbaloye.
Clarifying the minister’s comment, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka described the remark as “hyperbolic” and accused those he called propagandists of twisting it out of context.
But reacting, the NUJ said it was “shocked and outraged” by Wike’s remark, adding that the absence of any clarification or remorse suggested that the comment was deliberate.
“The minister’s statement constitutes a direct attempt to intimidate and silence the press, and undermines press freedom and democratic principles,” the statement reads.
The union added that such comments from a senior government official could create a climate of fear for journalists and discourage critical reporting.
It urged the federal government to condemn the remark and take steps to protect journalists and uphold media independence.
The NUJ called on media organisations and civil society groups to stand in solidarity in defence of press freedom.
“It sends a dangerous message that journalists could face hostility or threats for doing their job, which is unacceptable in a democratic society,” the union added.
