The media office of Atiku Abubakar has called on Nyesom Wike to tender a public apology over remarks perceived as a threat against a journalist.
The controversy stems from comments made by Wike during a media chat, where he reacted to a statement by Channels TV anchor Seun Okinbaloye, saying that if it were possible, he would have “shot him” through the television screen.
In a strongly worded statement, Atiku’s media office described the remark as “dangerous” and “disgraceful,” insisting that such language from a public official is unacceptable in a democratic society.
The statement stressed that the comment was not a joke, warning that violent rhetoric against journalists could undermine press freedom and democratic institutions. It also raised concerns about the safety of media professionals if such statements are normalised.
As a result, the media office demanded:
- An immediate and unconditional apology to the journalist and media community
- A clear rejection of violent rhetoric by government officials
Although Wike later clarified that he did not mean the comment literally, critics including civil society groups maintain that even hypothetical threats can be harmful and should not be dismissed lightly.
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