‘Telling truth is disrespect in Nigeria’ – Rufai Oseni defends journalistic style
Rufai Oseni, a news anchor for Arise News, criticized Nigerian politicians for their perceived intolerance toward the truth and their tendency to celebrate failure as a form of leadership. His comments came in response to critiques of his journalistic style.
During his remarks, Oseni accused the political class of manipulating the concept of respect to suppress dissenting voices. He argued that when journalists speak candidly about the country’s challenges—including rampant hardship, insecurity, and poor governance—politicians often view such transparency as a sign of disrespect.
Oseni stated, “Nigerian politicians treat speaking the truth as disrespect, while ruining citizens’ lives is celebrated as leadership.” He emphasized that many Nigerians are currently grappling with significant economic difficulties, citing rising inflation and escalating insecurity as pressing issues.
The broadcaster also noted that when journalists pose challenging questions, politicians frequently respond with anger, labeling them as rude or disrespectful. Oseni concluded that unless Nigerians demand greater accountability from their leaders and cease to praise those who fail to deliver results after years in office, the country will remain stagnant.
