The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has called on Nyesom Wike to retract a comment he made about Seun Okinbaloye.
IBAN, the umbrella body for independent broadcast stations in Nigeria, also threatened to boycott all media engagements organized by the minister if he does not publicly apologise.
In a statement signed by Ahmed Ramalan, IBAN chairman, and Fidelis Duker, acting general secretary, the association raised concerns about the implications of Wike’s remark aired during a live television interview.
On Friday, during a routine media chat on Politics Today, Wike expressed frustration at Okinbaloye’s commentary on Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” Wike said.
He later clarified to journalists that the statement was not meant literally. On Saturday, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s senior special assistant on public communications, described the comment as “hyperbolic” and claimed it had been taken out of context by propagandists.
IBAN said that, despite Wike’s clarification, such expressions are inappropriate for a public official and could be seen as intimidation. The association warned that statements suggesting violence contribute to a hostile environment for media practitioners.
It also noted that Nigeria currently ranks 122 out of 180 countries on the press freedom index, with journalists already facing surveillance, attacks, and arbitrary arrests.
IBAN demanded that Wike retract his comment and issue a public apology to Okinbaloye and the broader media community.
The association also urged him to reaffirm his commitment to press freedom under sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 constitution.
“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 move aims to protect journalists and discourage violent rhetoric while remaining open to constructive engagement with public officials.
“We hope the minister will take the necessary corrective action so that normal coverage can continue without interruption,” IBAN added.