Opposition politicising Wike's 'shoot' comment, says APC chieftain

The Port Harcourt-based lawyer faulted Atiku Abubakar's Media Office for elevating what he said could ordinarily pass as "a figure of speech made in a conversational setting, to a narrative of violence and authoritarianism."

Dike said, "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 added, "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 weaponize 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 a gimmick cannot earn them votes. No."

Dike urged Nigerians to ignore the politicisation of the matter by the opposition, stressing that "democracy does not thrive on manufactured outrage, but on honest engagement and constructive criticism".

The APC chieftain said, "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 onl