Youths in Ebonyi State have protested against Arise TV journalist Rufai Oseni over his heated exchange with Minister of Works Dave Umahi.
They demanded a public apology within 24 hours or vowed to continue demonstrations.
A group of youths in Ebonyi State on Friday took to the streets of Abakaliki, the state capital, to protest against Arise Television journalist, Rufai Oseni, over what they described as “disrespectful conduct” toward the Minister of Works and former state governor, Dave Umahi.
The protest followed a heated exchange between Oseni and Umahi during a live television interview earlier in the week. The clash began when the journalist pressed the minister to disclose the cost per kilometre of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. Umahi appeared visibly irritated by the question, asserting that road construction costs could not be calculated in simple terms and describing the inquiry as “elementary.” He also introduced himself as a “professor of practice in engineering,” saying the complexities of each section of the road must be considered.
Oseni, however, persisted, demanding a direct answer. At one point, he was heard saying, “If you can just keep quiet and allow me speak, I will be happy,” a comment that triggered mixed reactions among viewers and has since gone viral on social media.
The protesting youths, carrying placards with messages of support for Umahi, condemned Oseni’s tone and accused him of being rude to a respected national figure. One of the protesters said, “That young man, Rufai Oseni, had the audacity to tell Dave Umahi to keep quiet in front of the whole world. It was an insult not just to the minister but to the people of Ebonyi.”
They issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Oseni and Arise TV to apologize publicly to the Minister of Works, warning that failure to do so would result in sustained demonstrations across the state.
The protest ended peacefully under the supervision of security operatives who were deployed to maintain order. As of press time, neither Oseni nor Arise TV had issued an official response to the demands.
