LAGOS—THE Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE; Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Socio-{Economic} Rights and Accountability Mission, SERAP, yesterday, tasked President Bola Tinubu to analyze the alleged threat issued in opposition to Channels Tv presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Impartial Broadcast Affiliation of Nigeria, IBAN, nonetheless, threatened to boycott all media engagements organised by the minister, if he fails to publicly apologise to the journalist.
Wike had, throughout a media chat in Abuja, final Friday, reacted to feedback made by Okinbaloye on Politics Right now.
“I used to be shocked, yesterday (Thursday); completely shocked once I was watching Politics Right now. Seun, if there was any solution to break the display screen, I might have shot him,” the minister stated.
Okinbaloye had raised issues concerning the 2027 elections, suggesting that the political area seemed to be tilting in direction of dominance by a single occasion, referencing inside points throughout the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Reacting, the {groups}, in a joint assertion by NGE President, Eze Anaba; Basic Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, and SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, condemned the comment and urged the Federal Authorities to “promptly, completely, transparently and successfully examine the threat.”
Additionally they known as on the federal government to make sure the security of Okinbaloye and different journalists.
Warning that press freedom in Nigeria is beneath rising stress, the {groups} burdened that public officers should be open to scrutiny and criticism.
The assertion reads: “The Tinubu authorities ought to urgently take all needed measures to make sure the security and safety of Mr. Okinbaloye and different journalists going through threats to their security and safety, solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and finishing up their professional journalistic work.
“We’re severely involved that press freedom is in a ‘downward spiral’, with rising intimidation, harassment, threats, and assaults in opposition to journalists and media freedom throughout the nation.
“Public figures, together with politicians, are topic to a better diploma of scrutiny and criticism. The threat in opposition to Okinbaloye illustrates the escalating threats to the security and safety of journalists and media freedom within the nation.
“Like each particular person, Okinbaloye is entitled to train his proper to freedom of expression as a basic human proper, together with the appropriate to hunt, obtain, and impart info of public curiosity. His position as a journalist doesn’t diminish or deprive him of this proper.
“Though Mr. Wike has sought to make clear his remarks, the threat ought to by no means have been made, within the first place. The target of those that threaten journalists stays the identical: to sit back public curiosity reporting by rising the dangers confronted by journalists. Such conduct undermines press freedom and democratic accountability. This should cease.
“The persevering with failure by the Nigerian authorities to uphold press freedom and to successfully examine and prosecute the rising circumstances of threats and assaults in opposition to journalists has emboldened those that want to silence them.”
Citing information from Reporters With out Borders, they famous that Nigeria dropped 10 locations to 122nd place within the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, including that a minimum of 56 journalists have been reportedly assaulted or arrested in August 2024 alone whereas protecting protests.
They additional warned in opposition to the rising use of lawsuits to intimidate journalists.
“We’re involved that safety companies and politicians proceed to focus on journalists with lawsuits, typically for libel or prison defamation often known as strategic lawsuits in opposition to public participation, SLAPPs,” they stated.
NUJ calls for
Sponsored
apology, govt motion
Equally, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, expressed outrage over Wike’s comment at Okinbaloye of Channels Tv, describing it as a threat to press freedom.
The NUJ, in an announcement by its Nationwide President, Alhassan Yahya, stated the union was “profoundly shocked and outraged” by the minister’s remark: “If there’s any solution to break the display screen, I might have shot him.”
The NUJ stated: “The union intentionally delayed issuing this assertion, holding a honest perception that Mr Wike would, upon reflection, reveal fast regret and promptly withdraw his harmful remark.
“Nevertheless, the regrettable absence of any such retraction or apology strongly means that the assertion was not a momentary lapse however somewhat a deliberate and intentional act designed to intimidate.
“This incendiary remark creates a local weather of concern for journalists striving to uphold their skilled duties. It sends a harmful message that crucial reporting shall be met with hostility and threats of violence.”
The NUJ known as for “a right away and unreserved apology” from Wike, and urged the Federal Authorities to take a transparent stance.
“We name upon the Federal Authorities to swiftly and unequivocally condemn this threat, demonstrating its dedication to defending journalists and safeguarding the independence of the media,” it stated.
IBAN threatens
boycott of Wike’s
briefings
On its half, the Impartial Broadcast Affiliation of Nigeria, IBAN, yesterday, tasked the FCT Minister to retract a comment he made about Okinbaloye, simply because it threatened to boycott all media engagements organised by the minister if he doesn’t publicly apologise to the journalist.
The umbrella physique for all impartial broadcast stations in Nigeria, in an announcement by its chairman and appearing Basic; Secretary, Messrs Ahmed Ramalan and Fidelis Duker, expressed concern over the implications of the remark aired throughout a reside tv interview.
IBAN stated despite the fact that the minister later shared that he didn’t intend bodily hurt to the journalist, the utterance was inappropriate from a public official.
The affiliation stated expressions suggesting violence may very well be interpreted as intimidation of journalists.
IBAN requested Wike to retract his commentary and concern a public apology to Okinbaloye and the media group.
“Ought to the minister fail to satisfy these requests inside an inexpensive interval, IBAN may have no selection however to advise all impartial broadcast stations to droop protection of all press briefings, media chats, and official information conferences hosted by the FCT minister.
“We hope the minister will take the required corrective motion so that standard protection can proceed with out interruption,” the affiliation sa