By, Olawale Ogunbusola

A senior aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that the minister’s comment about “gunning down” Channels TV presenter Seun Okinbaloye was taken out of context.

Lere Olayinka, a Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Wike, said the minister was speaking figuratively and did not intend to threaten Okinbaloye.

“What the minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat, was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high esteem as a journalist, descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party faithful, instead of an interviewer,” Olayinka said in a statement on Saturday.

Olayinka explained that Wike’s comment was made in a relaxed, exaggerated context, and was meant to convey his displeasure with the conversation.

“Even after the Minister made the clarifications on the live television program, all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed,” Olayinka said, adding that Wike never meant to threaten Okinbaloye.

The minister’s aide urged the public to disregard attempts to use the comment as a tool for blackmail and propaganda, saying Wike is a lover of journalists and will never impede press freedom.

Olayinka called on journalists to remain neutral and unemotional in their line of duty.