By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Amnesty International has strongly condemned recent comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing his remarks as dangerous, inflammatory, and a threat to press freedom in Nigeria.
In a statement reacting to Wike’s appearance on live television released on its X handle on Saturday, the rights group criticized the minister’s use of violent language after he suggested he could respond to a journalist’s comments with force. During the broadcast, Wike had said, “If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a remark that has since sparked widespread concern.
Amnesty International said such rhetoric from a high-ranking government official risks normalizing violence and could embolden attacks on journalists. The organization warned that statements of this nature create a hostile environment for media practitioners who are simply carrying out their professional duties.
According to the group, the minister’s comments not only raise ethical concerns but may also breach Nigeria’s broadcasting regulations. It pointed to the role of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which is responsible for enforcing standards that prohibit the promotion of violence on air.
“This level of violent expression from a member of the federal cabinet is both unlawful and unacceptable,” Amnesty International said, stressing that public officials have a duty to uphold democratic values, including respect for freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.
The organization called on Wike to immediately retract his statement and issue a public apology, urging Nigerian authorities to take a firm stance against rhetoric that could endanger lives or undermine press freedom.
The controversy has further intensified ongoing debates about the relationship between political power and media independence in Nigeria, with observers warning that unchecked hostility toward journalists could erode democratic accountability.
Precise Post recalls that Wike had earlier, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, clarified the controversial remarks made by the minister during a recent media chat, insisting they were not intended as a threat.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lere Olayinka, stressed that Wike’s comment directed at Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television was made in a figurative context and should not be taken literally.
According to Olayinka, the minister did not mean he would harm the television anchor, explaining that the remark was an expression of frustration. He said Wike was displeased with what he perceived as Okinbaloye’s shift from professional journalism into political commentary during the interview.
