Amaechi Condemns Wike’s ‘Shoot a Journalist’ Comment, Questions Why a Normal Human Being Will Say Such

Media Executive Ikechukwu Amaechi has criticised the ‘I would have shot him’ comment made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Nyesom Wike, describing them as “irresponsible” and dangerous to democratic norms.

Amaechi, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche, who was speaking on News Central Breakfast Central programme on Tuesday was speaking on press freedom following the statement made by the Former Rivers State Governor during his media chat on Friday on national television in which the minister suggested he would have shot Seun Okinbaloye, a Channels Television journalist for expressing an opinion.

According to Amaechi, such remarks reflect a troubling disregard for press freedom and public accountability.
“Why would a normal human being, someone who has been a state governor and is currently a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, go on national television to say he would have shot a journalist for holding an opinion?” Amaechi queried.

He further criticised Wike’s regular media engagements, describing them as one-sided platforms that lack genuine scrutiny. Amaechi argued that these appearances amount to opportunities for the minister to “gaslight and insult Nigerians,” without allowing room for meaningful questioning or dissenting voices.

“That monthly court that Wike holds magisterially is not an interview,” Amaechi said. “None of those journalists is allowed to ask questions on the issues raised.”

Amaechi warned that the normalisation of such rhetoric poses a serious threat to democratic values and societal standards.

“Saying it is irresponsible will be an understatement,” he added.

“We are beginning to normalise things nobody in a decent society should accept. They are becoming the new normal in Nigeria.”

Civil Society Organisation, Nigerian Union of Journalists, and Amnesty International have condemned the threat to the life of the journalist, demanding an apology from the Minister.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says his comment about journalist Seun Okinbaloye was merely figurative and not personal. He urged journalists to practice responsible journalism by asking critical questions and providing clear answers that serve the public.

“People play politics with everything, anybody who knows my relationship with Seun will not begin to rant.”