The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) – the recognised umbrella body representing the interests of all independent broadcast stations across the country has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract and publicly apologize his statement concerning journalist Seun Okinbaloye
In a recent media interview last week in Abuja, the Minister said, among others,”If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.” The comment was made in reaction to the journalist’s interviewing style on the Politics Today programme
IBAN in a weekend statement, signed by Alh (Dr) Ahmed Tijani Ramalan, Chairman and Fidelis Duker, Acting General Secretary, called for retraction, apology from Wike, and announced boycott of his press briefing until compliance.
The said they had to issue this statement with deep concern over recent remarks made by the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
“While the Minister has since indicated he did not intend physical harm, IBAN believes that any expression of violent intent – even hypothetical – is inappropriate for a public official. Such language can be perceived as intimidation and risks normalising hostility toward the media, ” IBAN officials said, adding that,
“Nigeria currently ranks 122 out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index. Journalists already face significant challenges, including surveillance, attacks, and arbitrary arrests. Remarks of this nature from a senior government figure only worsen an already difficult environment for media professionals.”
They called on the Minister to fully retract the statement in clear terms; issue a public apology to Mr. Seun Okinbaloye and the broader media community and reaffirms his commitment to non-violence and respect for press freedom, consistent with Sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended).
“Should the Minister fail to meet these requests within a reasonable period, IBAN will have no choice but to advise all independent broadcast stations – whose interests this association solely represents – to suspend coverage of all press briefings, media chats, and official news conferences hosted by the FCT Minister..”
