By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
Arise TV’s fiery anchor, Rufai Oseni, has launched a blistering counterattack on Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, after being told he’s “not a real journalist” because he studied Animal Anatomy instead of journalism.
In a response he titled: “Time to Correct the Ignorance”, Oseni didn’t just defend his credentials – he completely dismantled the argument that only journalism graduates can practice the profession.
He dismissed the claim as “warped analogy,” arguing that formal education in journalism is not a prerequisite for excellence in the profession. He cited global icons like Margaret Thatcher (a chemist) and Theresa May (a geographer) as leaders who succeeded outside their academic disciplines, questioning why journalism should be different.
He said: “I have heard some warped analogy about what people studying in school definning them.
“Based on the warped analogy, That says to be a politician, you must study political science, Madam Thatcher wouldn’t have emerged, she should have focused on the Chemistry the studied and work in the Lab.
“Probably, Theresa May shouldn’t have become the British prime minister, she could have focused on Geography and become a geographer, trying to discover River Thames.
He lamented that the “sad part is people that should know better propagate this propaganda because they can’t challenge” him “with facts and figures”.
According to Oseni, “So they go the route of abuse and insults and I laugh so glowingly because they have confirmed that I am definitely doing something right.
“For us to build the Nigeria we want, we must do the hard work of making our leaders accountable. Accountability means seeking the best solution to the problem.
“I am not oblivious that those don’t want to be accountable have tools they use to propagate propaganda but they must realize that, the reason they have become tools is due to the dysfunctional nation, we are trying to set right”
“I am not delusional to think I can change Nigeria, but it will be on record i challenged it. The question is,what are you doing to challenge norms that are not right in society”, Oseni said.
To underscore his point further, Oseni listed renowned journalists who never studied the craft, including CNN’s Anderson Cooper (Political Science), NBC’s Lester Holt (Government), and India’s Prannoy Roy (Economics). He also referenced Walter Cronkite, the legendary CBS anchor who never graduated college, and Julie Gichuru, a Kenyan media mogul with a law degree.
A routine right-of-reply segment on Arise News’ The Morning Show descended into an acrimony yesterday when Nyesom Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, used his airtime to launch an extraordinary broadside against absent co-host Dr Reuben Abati, accusing him of acting as a proxy for political rival Rotimi Amaechi.
The exchange, ostensibly arranged to discuss governance matters in the Federal Capital Territory, rapidly deteriorated into personal recriminations as presenter Rufai Oseni found himself drawn into an increasingly heated confrontation. Viewers witnessed a striking breakdown in political communication as substantive debate gave way to barely veiled hostility.
Lere recently attacked Oseni Rufai, advising him to stop addressing himself as a journalist or go take a diploma in journalism.
“You studied Animal Anatomy, and you are on Arise as an on-air personality. You cannot face me and call yourself a journalist. I wouldn’t agree with you because you didn’t study journalism”, Lere said recently.
In a further escalation of tensions, Olayinka yesterday advised Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni to undertake “a two or three month journalism course” to refine his broadcasting approach.
The minister’s spokesperson took particular issue with what he characterised as Oseni’s overly legalistic questioning technique, “using words like, I put it to you”, as if he were in a law chamber rather than a television studio,” Olayinka remarked during the heated exchange.
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