'DSS assure me of safety but I no dey fear' - Channels TV host react to Wike 'shooting' comment

Channels televison host, Seun Okinbaloye don tok say e no fear wetin di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike recently tok.

For broadcast wey im do on Sunday, Oga Okinbaloye tok say "make I dey clear, I no dey fear and I no go ever dey intimidated", as e draw ear say journalism "still be duty to di public and no be for power."

Di kasala bin start afta Wike tok for media parley for Abuja on Friday wey e call out Oga Okinbaloye tok-tok for di TV show, Politics Today about di risk say Nigeria fit turn one party state.

Di minister bin tok say if e fit e for "break di screen", e "for shoot am" and dis kain tok don draw plenti gbas-gbos from civil society and media groups.

But Okinbaloye tok say e go kontinu to dey "ask di necessary kwesions" and hold power to account.

E add say di DSS give am assurance of safety as im tok say, "I bin also get call from di honorable minister wey clarify say, im intention no be as im tok am. "

Oga Okinbaloye say e note im message but tok say, "e dey important to emphasize say, violent tok-tok or suggestive threats no be beta way to take ansa disagreement for political society for time like dis, most especially for election season."

For di statement e tok say, "I see di comments wey suggest say dem for shot me sake of say I dey do my job for Poltics Today, I sincerely wan thank viewers and civil society groups for your love and your comments and your solidarity, and both local and international organisations for you sharp-sharp moves, and say una borrow your voice join dis mata. Una support dey deeply appreciated, and dey re-ginger our collective commitment to truth and accountabilty".

E also warn say, "our democracy dey in danger if we allow one-way traffic for balloting", e fit create environment wey go dey exploited by those wey get harmful intentions.

Dis na as e add say, "no be warning give di oppposition or di ruling party, but to all Nigerians wey belive in di developemtn of our kontri."

Public apology from Wike - media group demand

Meanwhile even wit di phone call wey di tori pesin tok say e get from Wike, oda tori pipo say dem no wan gree end di mata ooo.

Di Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) tok say make Wike retract di statement and come appologize publicly about di statement.

Dis na as IBAN na join-bodi for all independent broadcast stations for Nigeria.

For statement wey di chairman and acting general secretary, Ahmed Ramalan and Fidelis Duker, dem bin threaten say dem no go attent any media engagenet wey im go organise mving forward if e no quick run am.

For dia statement dem tok say even though di minister later tok say e bin no mean harm wit wetin e tok, dat kain tok no dey okay for public official to tok.

Dem add say dat kain tok-tok fit dey seen as intimidation of tori-pipo dem and fit join to make work hard for media practitioners..

Dis association torchlight say Nigeria dey ranked 122 out of 180 kontris for di press freedom index as dem claim say tori pipo for di kontri get plenti wahala wey dey do dem wey include surveillance, attacks and anyhow arrests.

Di joinbodi conclude say, "We hope say di minister go take di necessary corrective action so normal coverage go fit continue without interrptin."

Who be Nyesome Wike

Nyesom Wike na na di former govnor of Rivers State for southern Nigeria and di current Minister of FCT.

Wit di appointment of former govnor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike as Minister of di Federal Capital Territory (FCT) dis make am di first time southerner to head di ministry in 47 years.

In years past na mostly northerners dey head dis particular ministry.

Di 59-year-old na lawyer wey dem call to Bar for 1997 and by 1999 e become local govment chairman of Obio-Akpor.

For 2007, Nyesom Wike get appointment as Chief of staff to former govnor Rotimi Amaechi.

By 2011 former Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan appoint am minister of state for Education.

Na 2015 e become govnor of Rivers state and dey serve im second term.

Nyesom Wike say im administration as president go solve di leadership problem for Nigeria and sustain economic growth.