The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has clarified remarks made by the minister during a recent media chat, stating that the comments were figurative and not intended to be taken literally.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Mr Olayinka explained that the minister’s comments, which generated public concern, were made in a hyperbolic context to express displeasure rather than convey any literal intent of harm.
He specifically addressed the controversy surrounding comments directed at Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, noting that the minister did not intend any threat. According to him, the statement was a figurative expression used to highlight the minister’s dissatisfaction with what he described as a shift in the tone of the interview.
Mr Olayinka stated that the minister was expressing concern over what he perceived as the journalist adopting a more politically engaged stance rather than maintaining the neutrality expected of an interviewer. He said the remarks were made in frustration and should be understood within that context.
The aide further disclosed that the minister and the journalist had since spoken on the phone and that the matter had been clarified between both parties, with Mr Okinbaloye reportedly understanding the context in which the statement was made.
He also noted that during the live television interview, which featured Channels Television’s Head of Abuja Office, Chamberlain Uzor, the minister had already attempted to clarify his remarks, including explicitly stating that he did not intend any physical harm or to carry out any violent action.
According to Mr Olayinka, the reactions of the journalists during the interview, including laughter following the clarification, further indicated that the statement was understood as figurative rather than literal.
He warned that isolating the comment and presenting it out of context would amount to misrepresentation, describing such actions as a deliberate attempt to create controversy for political purposes.
Mr Olayinka urged the public to disregard what he described as attempts to weaponise the statement for blackmail or propaganda, insisting that the minister’s comments were misinterpreted by those seeking to exploit them.
He reaffirmed that the clarification provided during the media chat was sufficient and that the issue should not be further sensationalised beyond its original context.
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