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By Oscar Okhifo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has accused opposition figures of playing politics with the “shoot” remark made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing the backlash as a deliberate distortion.
Dike, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, said critics of President Bola Tinubu administration had twisted the minister’s comment to create unnecessary controversy.
He maintained that the remark was clearly figurative and made in a relaxed media setting, stressing that it should not be interpreted as a literal threat as being suggested by opposition actors.
“I view with concern the deliberate misrepresentation of a light-hearted remark made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, by frustrated political actors desperate to score cheap points against the administration of Bola Tinubu,” Dike said.
The Port Harcourt-based lawyer particularly faulted the media office of Atiku Abubakar for amplifying what he described as a harmless comment into a narrative of violence.
“No reasonable person expects that anyone could ‘shoot’ another through a television screen. Such exaggeration only exposes the weakness of their argument,” he added.
Dike maintained that the statement bore the hallmarks of casual political banter common in Nigeria’s often animated public discourse, stressing that attempts to interpret it as a real threat were deliberate distortions.
“The comment in question bears all the hallmarks of casual political banter, something not uncommon in Nigeria’s vibrant public discourse.
“To now recast it as a literal threat is to wilfully distort reality for partisan advantage,” he said.
He further accused opposition elements of engaging in misinformation aimed at discrediting public officials and undermining democratic institutions.
“There was no threat, real or implied against Seun Okinbaloye or any member of the Nigerian media. What exists instead is a calculated attempt by opposition elements to weaponise humour and turn it into controversy,” Dike stated.
According to him, critics of the Tinubu administration have resorted to sensationalism due to their inability to engage on governance and policy issues.
“This pattern of sensationalism reflects a broader strategy by critics of the Tinubu administration to manufacture crises where none exist. Unable to engage substantively on policy or performance, they resort to amplifying trivialities in hopes of misleading the public. Such gimmicks cannot earn them votes,” he said.
Dike urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as politicisation of the issue, emphasising that democracy thrives on constructive criticism rather than “manufactured outrage.”
Dike also criticised the tone of the Atiku Media Office, saying its reaction does little to enrich public discourse, but rather fuels unnecessary tension and diverts attention from more pressing national issues.
He concluded by calling on opposition actors to focus on issues affecting citizens, noting that rhetorical expressions in political communication should not be taken literally without considering context.
“Nigeria’s democracy is far stronger than the fragile narrative being pushed by those who appear determined to see authoritarianism where none exists,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seun Okinbaloye has confirmed that Nyesom Wike reached out to him to explain the context of the controversial remark.
Despite the clarification, the Channels Television anchor maintained his concerns about the broader political climate, warning against the dangers of Nigeria drifting towards a one-party state.
“I cannot be intimidated,” Okinbaloye said, reiterating his stance on the need to safeguard democratic plurality.