The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has asked Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to tender an apology over a remark he made about Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television.
In a statement in Sunday signed by Alhassan Abdullahi, NUJ
national president, the union said it had initially delayed responding,
expecting the minister to retract the statement and issue an apology.
On Friday, during a routine media chat, Wike said he was
unhappy with Okinbaloye’s remarks on the state of Nigeria’s democracy while
watching Politics Today.
“If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot
him,” Wike said.
He explained to the journalists present that his comment was
not meant as a literal threat against Okinbaloye.
On Saturday, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s senior special assistant
on public communications, described the minister’s remark about Okinbaloye as
“hyperbolic” and accused propagandists of twisting it out of context.
However the NUJ said it was “shocked and outraged” by Wike’s
remark, adding that the absence of any clarification or remorse suggests the
comment was deliberate.
“The minister’s statement constitutes a direct attempt to
intimidate and silence the press, and undermines press freedom and democratic
principles,” the statement reads.
The NUJ added that such comments from a senior government
official could create a climate of fear for journalists and discourage critical
reporting.
The union urged the federal government to condemn the remark
and take steps to protect journalists and uphold media independence.
The NUJ further called on media organisations and civil
society groups to stand in solidarity in defence of press freedom.
“It sends a dangerous message that journalists could face
hostility or threats for doing their job, which is unacceptable in a democratic
society,” the union added.
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