The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike: retract your “reckless” comments against Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye or face a total media blackout.
The controversy stems from a media chat on Friday, during which the Minister expressed his displeasure with Okinbaloye’s analysis of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory on the program *Politics Today*.
“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike told journalists. Although the Minister immediately clarified that the remark was not a literal threat, the statement has sparked a firestorm of condemnation from media advocacy groups and political figures alike.
‘Not Intimidated’
In a defiant response during a live broadcast of *Sunday Politics Today*, Okinbaloye made it clear that he would not be cowed by the Minister’s rhetoric.
“I am not afraid and can never be intimidated,” Okinbaloye stated. “Journalism grounded in ethics and global best practices remains a duty to the public, not a concession to power.”
While Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the comment as “hyperbolic” and taken out of context, industry leaders argue that such language from a high-ranking public official is dangerous.
The IBAN Ultimatum
In a joint statement signed by Chairman Ahmed Ramalan and Acting General Secretary Fidelis Duker, IBAN warned that expressions suggesting violence contribute to a hostile environment for the press. The association noted that Nigeria currently ranks a lowly 122 out of 180 countries on the global press freedom index.
“Should the minister fail to meet these requests within a reasonable period, IBAN will have no choice but to advise all independent broadcast stations to suspend coverage of all press briefings, media chats, and official news conferences hosted by the FCT minister,” the statement read.
IBAN further reminded the Minister of his constitutional obligations, urging him to reaffirm his commitment to press freedom as enshrined in Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution.
Growing Backlash
The Minister’s remarks have also drawn fire from political heavyweights. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the threat as “reckless and disgraceful,” suggesting it underscores a growing intolerance for dissent within the current administration.
IBAN maintains that a boycott is a measure of last resort intended to protect the lives of journalists and discourage violent rhetoric against the media.
“We hope the minister will take the necessary corrective action so that normal coverage can continue without interruption,” the association concluded.
