Reactions have followed remarks by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike directed at Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye during a media chat in Abuja.
Minister Wike had said he would have “shot” the journalist over comments made on his programme about the possibility of Nigeria becoming a one-party state.
Mr Okinbaloye had raised concerns about the 2027 elections, citing issues within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and warning about the state of opposition politics.
Responding during the media chat on Friday, Wike said, “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
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The comment has drawn reactions from individuals and groups.
On Saturday, financial analyst Olufemi Awoyemi said the remark should not be treated lightly.
“When leaders speak in ways that suggest a journalist could be shot, the implications go beyond words,” he said.
“A leader jokes about silencing a critic… what starts as rhetoric can become permission.”
A coalition of press freedom and civil society organisations also reacted, calling on Wike to withdraw the statement and apologise.
In a statement signed by 14 groups, the coalition said such remarks could be seen as intimidation.
“Even hypothetical expressions of violent intent constitute a conditional threat and cannot be dismissed as harmless,” the statement said.
The groups added that such comments could affect press freedom and public accountability.
They urged public officials to avoid statements that could be interpreted as threats and to support the role of the media in a democratic system.