The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, demanding a public retraction and apology over disparaging remarks directed at Channels Television journalist, Seun Okinbaloye.
The controversy stems from a live media chat on Friday, where Minister Wike expressed frustration with Okinbaloye’s analysis of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. During the broadcast, the Minister stated, “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” a comment his aides later defended as hyperbolic and taken out of context.
Threat of Media Boycott
In a joint statement signed by IBAN Chairman, Ahmed Ramalan, and Acting General Secretary, Fidelis Duker, the association warned that failure to address the matter would result in a total blackout of the Minister’s activities by independent stations across the country.
“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 association declared.
The group emphasized that such an extreme measure is necessary to protect journalists and discourage violent rhetoric from public officials. They argued that even if the Minister did not intend physical harm, the utterance remains inappropriate and risks intimidating media practitioners in an already volatile environment.
Concerns Over Press Freedom
IBAN highlighted the precarious state of journalism in Nigeria, noting that the country currently ranks 122 out of 180 on the global press freedom index. The association pointed out that journalists already grapple with surveillance, physical attacks, and arbitrary arrests, making the Minister’s comments particularly dangerous.
The body called on Wike to reaffirm his commitment to the 1999 Constitution, specifically Sections 22 and 39, which guarantee the freedom of the press. While the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, has dismissed the outcry as the work of propagandists, IBAN insists that a formal, public apology to both Okinbaloye and the wider media community is the only path toward maintaining normal reportorial relations.
“We hope the minister will take the necessary corrective action so that normal coverage can continue without interruption,” the statement concluded, though the association maintained it remains open to constructive engagement should the Minister choose to de-escalate.
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