From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Members of opposition political parties criticising the administration of President Bola Tinubu have been accused of playing politics with the “shoot” remark used by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a Channels Television interview.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, made the accusation during a chat with journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Dike said Wike’s metaphorical comment was twisted out of context by desperate political opponents.
He stated, “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.”
The Port Harcourt-based lawyer particularly faulted the Atiku Abubakar Media Office for elevating what was “clearly a figure of speech made in a conversational media setting into a narrative of violence and authoritarianism”.
He continued: “No reasonable person expects that anyone could ‘shoot” another through a television screen. Such exaggeration only exposes the weakness of their argument.”
“The comment in question bears all the hallmarks of casual political banter—something not uncommon in Nigeria’s vibrant and often animated public discourse. To now recast it as a literal threat is to wilfully distort reality for partisan advantage.
“It is ironic that those who now cry wolf over supposed ‘violent rhetoric’ are themselves engaged in a campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting public officials and undermining confidence in democratic institutions.”
Dike emphasised: “Let it be clearly stated, 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.
“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. No.”
He urged Nigerians to ignore the opposition’s politicisation of the matter, stressing that democracy does not thrive on manufactured outrage but on honest engagement and constructive criticism.
The APC chieftain declared, “Atiku Media Office’s alarmist tone does little to advance national discourse. Rather than contribute meaningfully to governance conversations, it seeks to inflame passions and create unnecessary tension.
“It is important to remind all stakeholders that public communication, especially in politically charged environments, often includes rhetorical expressions that are not meant to be taken literally. Context matters, and in this case, context has been deliberately ignored.
“I, therefore, call on the opposition to desist from this pattern of distortion and instead focus on issues that genuinely affect the welfare of Nigerians.
“Nigeria’s democracy is far stronger than the fragile narrative being pushed by those who appear determined to see authoritarianism where none exists.
“In the end, attempts to twist harmless remarks into grave allegations will only serve to confuse their promoters, as such claims lack substance and cannot withstand objective scrutiny.”
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