There was serious gbege on live television this morning as Arise TV pulled the plug on an interview that quickly turned into a war of words.
Arise TV was forced to abruptly end a live broadcast after Lere Olayinka, the media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, allegedly insulted anchor Rufai Oseni and flatly refused to answer his questions on air.
What Happened?
The drama unfolded during a live interview session on Arise TV, one of Nigeria’s leading news channels. Olayinka, who is well known for his fierce loyalty to his principal and his no-holds-barred style on social media, apparently took things too far when he clashed with veteran broadcaster Rufai Oseni.
Rather than engage with the questions being put to him, Olayinka reportedly chose to hurl insults at the anchor — a move that left viewers stunned and forced the station to take the drastic step of cutting the interview short entirely.
The Fallout
For a media aide whose job is literally to manage public perception, this kind of televised meltdown is nothing short of an own goal. Nigerians on social media have not wasted any time sharing their reactions, with many dragging the incident from Lagos to Abuja and back.
Rufai Oseni, known for his sharp and probing interview style, has built a reputation for asking the hard questions that politicians and their associates often find uncomfortable. It appears Olayinka was not prepared for that energy this morning.
Nigerians React
As expected, the video of the incident has been making the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and Instagram, with many Nigerians calling out Olayinka’s behaviour as embarrassing and unprofessional.
> “You go on national television to represent your oga and this is what you do? E no make sense at all.”
Others, however, have come to his defence, arguing that some journalists can be unnecessarily provocative — though most agree that walking out or insulting an anchor is never the right move.
Bottom Line
Whether you are Team Wike or not, one thing is clear — when you appear on live TV, you must be ready to answer the tough questions. Throwing tantrums and insulting journalists only ensures that the story becomes about you rather than your message.
The video is currently circulating online. Watch it and drop your thoughts — who was in the wrong here? Was Rufai Oseni out of line, or did Lere Olayinka embarrass himself and his principal on national television?
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Stay with buzzUp9ja for more updates as this story develops.
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