FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has responded to the backlash following his controversial remark about Channels TV anchor Seun Okinbaloye.
Speaking on News Central on Monday, Wike insisted the statement was not meant literally but expressed out of frustration.
“It’s really unfortunate, you know, in Nigeria people blow everything out of context particularly playing politics with everything,” he said.
“Anybody who knows my relationship with Seun will not begin to rant,” Wike added.
“It’s a figure of speech that explains how angry I was. I’ve spoken to him; we have no problem. He said he understands everything.”
The controversy followed an earlier interview where Okinbaloye warned that a one-party system could undermine Nigeria’s democracy. In response, Wike said he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” the journalist — a remark that sparked widespread criticism.
Notable reactions came from Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress, among others, who condemned the statement.