Lere Olayinka, Media aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that the minister did not threaten to harm Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye.

Olayinka gave the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday, stating that the minister’s controversial comment during a live media chat on Channels Television was “purely figurative” and intended as a form of exaggeration.

He further explained that Wike’s remark was made out of frustration, noting that the minister felt Okinbaloye, whom he respects appeared to take a political stance rather than maintain journalistic neutrality during the interview.

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“The minister never meant that he will shoot Seun Okinbaloye.

“They have even spoken on the phone, and Okinbaloye understands what was meant,” he said.

According to the him, the statement was hyperbolic and not a literal threat, emphasizing that Wike had already clarified this during the live broadcast.

Olayinka further noted that other journalists present, including Abuja Bureau Chief Chamberlain Uzor, treated the comment as non-serious, reacting with laughter during the program.

He warned against taking the remark out of context, describing such actions as deliberate attempts to distort facts for political purposes.

“It will be a hatchet job for any individual or group to misrepresent the statement,” he added.

The aide urged the public to disregard what he described as efforts to weaponize the comment for propaganda or blackmail.