Threat Against Journalist – Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo

By Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)

It’s important to call things by their name: a threat against a journalist is not just a personal outburst it strikes at the very heart of democracy. The recent remarks attributed to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike toward Seun Okinbaloye are deeply troubling and represent a dangerous precedent in a society that claims to uphold freedom of expression.

Nigeria’s democracy rests on pillars such as accountability, transparency, and a free press. When a high-ranking public official openly threatens a media professional for simply doing their job asking questions, and holding power to account it sends a chilling message not only to that individual but to every journalist across the country. It suggests that truth-telling may come at the cost of personal safety, and that those in authority may resort to intimidation rather than dialogue.

This is not just about one minister or one journalist. It is about the image of Nigeria on the global stage. Incidents like this reinforce negative perceptions that public office holders are intolerant of criticism and unwilling to engage constructively. It weakens public trust in leadership and undermines confidence in democratic institutions. A nation cannot progress when its leaders appear to silence voices rather than listen to them.

Moreover, the role of the media in any society cannot be overstated. Journalists serve as the bridge between the government and the people. They ask the hard questions that many citizens cannot ask. They shine light in places where darkness might otherwise hide corruption or inefficiency. Threatening them is equivalent to threatening the public’s right to know.

It is also worth emphasising that public officials are held to a higher standard of conduct. Leadership demands restraint, maturity, and respect for differing opinions even when those opinions are uncomfortable. Words spoken by those in power carry weight, and when those words imply violence, they normalise a culture of fear and aggression that can trickle down into society.

This situation should serve as a wake-up call. Civil society organisations, media bodies, and concerned citizens must speak out firmly against any form of intimidation directed at journalists. Silence in moments like this only emboldens further misconduct. There must be accountability, not just in words but in action, to ensure that such behaviour is neither repeated nor tolerated.
Nigeria deserves leadership that inspires confidence, not fear. It deserves a media environment where journalists can operate freely without looking over their shoulders. And it deserves a society where disagreements are resolved through dialogue, not threats.

At a time when the country faces numerous challenges economic hardship, insecurity, and social tension the last thing Nigerians need is for those in positions of authority to deepen divisions or erode democratic values. Respect for the press is not optional; it is fundamental. Without it, democracy itself begins to crumble.