By Erewunmi Peace

A recent online controversy has emerged following comments made by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike). Olayinka accused Rufai Oseni, a well-known anchor with Arise Television, of being “paid to go to Abia to celebrate a less-than-3km street road.”

In a statement shared on social media, Olayinka alleged that Oseni “simply went to Abia to chop,” suggesting that the journalist’s visit to Abia State to observe infrastructure projects under Governor Alex Otti was financially motivated. He criticized Oseni for allegedly failing to uphold the same level of scrutiny he displayed during his earlier interview with Minister of Works David Umahi, where Oseni pressed for details on the cost-per-kilometer of federal road projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Olayinka’s central claim was that Oseni displayed bias and inconsistency in his journalistic approach. He accused the Arise TV presenter of being lenient toward the Abia State Government while being aggressively critical of federal officials, implying that financial influence may have shaped Oseni’s tone and coverage.

The allegation comes amid an ongoing public feud between Oseni and Wike’s political camp. In recent months, exchanges between the journalist and Olayinka have surfaced online, with both sides trading accusations relating to governance, accountability, and integrity in public discourse.

At the time of this report, there is no independent evidence or verified documentation to support the claim that Oseni was paid for his visit to Abia State. The article that first reported the allegation does not confirm the claim as factual; it merely quotes Olayinka’s statements. Neither Rufai Oseni nor Arise Television has publicly issued a detailed response to the specific accusation.

The allegation against Rufai Oseni remains unverified and should be treated as such pending credible evidence. It highlights the growing tension between journalists and political figures in Nigeria’s current public discourse, especially concerning issues of transparency, accountability, and perceived media bias.