Channels TV anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, has opened up about a personal call he got from FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, after the minister stirred controversy for saying he wanted to “shoot” the journalist on live TV.
Speaking on Sunday night’s Politics Today, Okinbaloye said Wike reached out to clear the air, but he stressed that violent words have no place in a democratic country.
He also thanked civil society groups and the international community for their “swift intervention” and support after the heated moment.
The drama started when Wike, at a media briefing in Abuja, got frustrated with Okinbaloye’s questions about Nigeria possibly drifting toward a one-party system.
“If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike had said, a comment that immediately sparked outrage.
Okinbaloye confirmed Wike called to clarify, saying, “I also received a call from the Minister, who clarified that the intention was not as conveyed. While that is noted, it is important to emphasise that violent rhetoric or suggesting threats are never appropriate responses in a decent democratic society.”
He warned that such statements, especially with elections around the corner, could be used by people with “harmful intentions,” adding that the DSS has assured him of his safety.
Earlier, the African Action Congress (AAC) slammed Wike’s comment, calling it “dangerous and unacceptable.”
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Rex I. Elanu, the party said Wike’s outburst attacks press freedom and democratic accountability. They pointed out that Okinbaloye was just doing his job, asking about the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its impact on the 2027 elections.
Despite the threat, Okinbaloye stayed firm, saying he won’t back down. “Let me be clear: I am not afraid and I will never be intimidated,” he declared. “Journalism grounded in ethics and global best practices remains a duty to the public, not a concession to power. We may disagree, but we will never descend into hostility or harm.”
He added that he will keep asking “necessary questions” for Nigeria’s progress. “If that commitment comes at a cost, then so be it; truth must endure,” he said.
Okinbaloye also reminded Nigerians that democracy is at risk if elections are treated like “one-way traffic.” He clarified that his comments were not a warning to any party, but a message to all Nigerians who care about the country’s future.
While Channels TV has reportedly taken internal measures over the incident, the matter is still fuelling debates about journalists’ safety and how top officials handle pressure under the current administration.
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