“I Wish I Could Shoot Him” — Wike Reacts to Journalist’s One-Party State Comment
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed strong frustration over comments made by Channels Television journalist Seun Okinbaloye, stating that he wished he could “shoot him through the TV screen.”
Wike made the remark on Friday during a media chat in Abuja while reacting to a discussion aired on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The controversy followed Thursday’s edition of the programme, which focused on the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During the broadcast, Okinbaloye raised concerns about the possibility of Nigeria drifting toward a one-party state. He noted that the ADC, considered one of the few opposition alternatives, might be unable to participate in the 2027 general elections due to internal challenges.
He stated that the absence of strong opposition could weaken democratic competition, stressing that elections are more meaningful when multiple parties are actively involved rather than when one party dominates the ballot.
Reacting to the comments, Wike accused the journalist of abandoning neutrality and taking a position on the issue instead of maintaining the role of an interviewer.
He expressed surprise at the remarks, questioning why a journalist would make what he described as a personal statement on national television rather than simply asking questions.
Wike argued that by making such comments, the journalist appeared to have taken sides in the political dispute, which, according to him, was inappropriate for someone in that position.
He, however, clarified that his statement about wanting to “shoot him through the TV screen” was not a literal threat but an expression of frustration over the situation.
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