Broadcast body warns Wike, threatens boycott over comment on Okinbaloye

The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to retract a controversial remark he made about Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television.

IBAN, the umbrella body representing all independent broadcast stations in Nigeria, also threatened to boycott all media engagements organised by the minister if he fails to issue a public apology to the journalist and the broader media community.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Ahmed Ramalan, and Acting General Secretary, Fidelis Duker, the association expressed concern over comments made by Wike during a live television interview on Friday.

During the routine media chat, Wike said he was angered by Okinbaloye’s comments on the state of Nigeria’s democracy while watching an episode of ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television.

“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” the minister said, before clarifying to journalists present that his statement was not meant to be taken literally.

On Saturday, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, defended the minister’s statement, describing it as “hyperbolic” and taken out of context by what he termed propagandists.

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However, IBAN maintained that even with the subsequent clarification, the comment was inappropriate for a public official.

The association stated that expressions suggesting violence, regardless of intent, could be interpreted as attempts to intimidate journalists and may contribute to an increasingly hostile environment for media practitioners.

IBAN noted that Nigeria currently ranks 122 out of 180 countries on the global press freedom index and that journalists in the country already face significant challenges, including surveillance, physical attacks, and arbitrary arrests.

The body called on Wike to formally retract the statement and issue a public apology to Okinbaloye and the media industry. It also urged the minister to reaffirm his commitment to press freedom in accordance with Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and the press.

“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.

The association said the proposed boycott would serve as a protective measure for journalists and a stand against rhetoric perceived as threatening to the media.

Despite its strong stance, IBAN said it remains open to constructive engagement with public officials and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably.

“We hope the minister will take the necessary corrective action so that normal coverage can continue without interruption,” the statement added.