Wike never meant threat to Channels TV anchor – Olayinka

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified a remark the Minister made about Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye. Olayinka said Wike was speaking figuratively.

In a statement on Saturday, Olayinka said: “The Minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They even spoke on the phone today, and Okinbaloye understood what the Minister meant.”

Olayinka explained that Wike had already clarified his statement during Friday’s live media chat. Anyone quoting it out of context would be doing a “clear hatchet job.”

He added that Wike was angry because he respected Okinbaloye as a journalist but felt the anchor was acting like a political participant rather than an interviewer. The comment was an exaggeration meant to make a point, not a threat.

Olayinka also noted that all journalists at the media chat, including Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office, laughed at the remark.

He urged the public not to use Wike’s comment to spread false information or for political propaganda.