Broadcast journalist and Arise News anchor, Oseni Rufai, has stated that what he does on air is not new in global journalism, emphasizing that his style of tough questioning aligns with international standards practiced by respected broadcasters across the world.
According to him, anchors such as Christiane Amanpour, Stephen Sackur of BBC’s Hardtalk, and Jake Tapper of CNN are known for grilling world leaders, cutting through rhetoric, and demanding evidence a journalistic approach that holds power accountable.
Oseni noted that in Nigeria, however, such firmness is often misconstrued as hostility because of the “fragile ego” of the political elite.
The real issue is not my tone; it is the fragile ego of the Nigerian political class,” he said. “Many public officials have not learned to separate personal pride from public responsibility. They expect journalists to worship them, not question them.”
He criticized politicians who demand that interview questions be sent in advance, describing the practice as one that “undermines spontaneity and shields leaders from accountability.”
When they meet journalists who refuse to play by those rules, they interpret professionalism as provocation,” Oseni added.
He stressed that journalism, by its nature, is meant to “discomfort the comfortable and comfort the afflicted,” insisting that the duty of a journalist is not to please politicians but to pursue truth in the public interest.
It is not about how warmly a question is phrased, but how truthfully it is pursued. If a public servant cannot handle inquiry, then perhaps they have no business serving the public,” Oseni said.
