Seun Okinbaloye has said he is neither afraid nor intimidated amid controversy sparked by comments from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, while thanking Nigerians and organisations for what he described as overwhelming support.
Speaking during a broadcast on Sunday, Okinbaloye acknowledged solidarity from civil society groups, viewers, and both local and international organisations, saying the response reaffirmed public commitment to truth and accountability.
He warned that democratic space could be narrowed if dissenting voices were silenced, arguing that democracy was at risk if elections and political debate became “one-way traffic.”
The journalist stressed that his comments were not aimed at any political party but at Nigerians broadly, saying the issues raised cut across partisan lines and were about national development.
Okinbaloye disclosed that he had received reassurances regarding his safety, citing ongoing communication from the Department of State Services.
He also revealed that he had received a call from Wike, who, according to him, clarified that the minister’s intention was not as initially conveyed.
Despite the clarification, Okinbaloye cautioned against the use of inflammatory language by public officials, particularly during an election period, saying that violent or suggestive rhetoric could be misinterpreted and exploited by those with harmful intent.
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Reaffirming his stance, he said he would continue to practise journalism guided by ethics and global best standards, describing accountability reporting as a public duty rather than a concession to power.
He added that he would keep asking difficult questions and holding officials to account, regardless of the cost.
The controversy followed comments made by Wike during a media parley in Abuja, where he reacted to Okinbaloye’s comments on a Channels Television programme analysing the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its implications for opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
Okinbaloye had asked about the prospect of Nigeria drifting towards a one-party state, a view the minister criticised as inappropriate commentary from a journalist.
While Wike later said he did not intend physical harm, his aide, Lere Olayinka, described the response as hyperbolic and made without intent, explaining that the minister believed the anchor had crossed from moderation into political advocacy.
"The Minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye. What he meant was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer," Olayinka said.
However, Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the statement, describing it as reckless and violent.
Amnesty International warned that such language from senior public officials could normalise attacks on journalists and undermine press freedom in the country.