Social Listening 10 October 2025

Core issues in the Arise TV (Rufai Oseni) versus Works Minister Dave Umahi imbroglio

The imbroglio between ARISE TV anchor Rufai Oseni and Works Minister Dave Umahi stemmed from a contentious live interview, which revealed a clash of personalities alongside deeper issues concerning a major infrastructure project.

Rufai Oseni challenged the minister on policy and personal titles. He alleged that the minister reported him to President Bola Tinubu. In response, David Umahi deemed the journalist “too small” to report to the President and told him to “keep quiet.”

The dispute arose from Oseni’s persistent questioning about the transparency and details of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, including its cost per kilometre and loan aspects. Umahi responded defensively, dismissing Oseni’s claims and accusing him of lacking the technical expertise to discuss the project.

The Coastal Highway Project was under debate. Rufai questioned Umahi about the project’s costs. Umahi defended the transparency of the project and its variable costs, stating that oversubscription for the loan elements served as proof of sound budgeting.

Next, Rufai referenced ongoing court cases related to property demolitions for the project. He cited demolitions at Winhomes, a project by Nigerian diasporans. The minister clarified that some cases were dismissed, questioned Winhomes’ legitimacy, and emphasised the importance of protecting diaspora investments.

Oseni challenged Umahi’s self-proclaimed “professor in engineering” title. However, Umahi clarified it was a professorship earned through practical experience, not academia.

Deeper Issues: The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

The personal clash during the interview overshadowed the substantive policy issues related to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, which were the intended topic of discussion.

Key points of the conflict

Emotional tensions escalated with dismissive and belittling remarks from Umahi, such as “You are too small” and “You don’t understand anything.”

Oseni maintained a call for accountability despite the tension, emphasising the role of a free and courageous press.

• Cost and Transparency: Oseni’s line of questioning addressed public concerns regarding the project’s cost. In his defence, Umahi argued that no two sections of a road project cost the same per kilometre and stated that the loan component for the project was oversubscribed by international banks, which he cited as validation of the project’s cost-effectiveness.

• Property Demolitions and the Winhomes Dispute: The minister addressed the legal disputes surrounding the Winhomes development, questioning the legality of the land sale and the status of the so-called “diaspora investors”. He acknowledged ongoing court cases but stated that no court injunction had halted the project’s progress. Umahi emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting legitimate investments, saying the administration would not let the Winhomes issue “damage the Tinubu administration’s relations with diaspora investors”.

A Divided Public Reaction

The incident sparked significant debate on social media, with public opinion divided.
• Some viewers criticised Umahi for what they perceived as an undignified and arrogant outburst, revealing the character of public officials.
• Others blamed Oseni, claiming his interviewing style was disrespectful and counterproductive, hindering a meaningful discussion on a vital topic.
• Another segment of commentators criticised both parties, feeling that the unprofessional exchange diverted attention from critical issues of public accountability.

Read also: Social Listening 8 October 2025

Opinion: Oseni versus Umahi

The interview session between Oseni, the controversial Arise TV anchor, and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has taken place, but the fallout persists. As expected, the interview was poor, as neither Oseni nor Umahi showed enough respect to each other.

Oseni is fiery, passionate, and self-opinionated, which isn’t quite a bad trait for a journalist hosting a morning show. Umahi is arrogant, petty, and delusional, which harms his role as a public officer.Both sides need to adjust. Oseni should realise that a journalist’s role is not to label someone as a fraud or a criminal, but to reveal if the person is untruthful, dishonest, or unqualified. He does this subtly by asking tough, sometimes misleading, questions. Oseni should balance passion with wisdom.

Minister Umahi needs a reminder that he is no longer the Governor of Ebonyi; he should not believe everything is within his control. No, sir. Nothing is under your authority now. You are a public servant. A minister has no inherent importance. A minister is an aide to someone the people elected (setting aside the specifics of the 2023 election for now), and that person is expected to be responsive and accountable. So, when you next appear at a public forum, present your best points, try to smile even when heckled, and trust that your look and body language convey a clear message.

Yes, sir, you are a big man. But you are still a public servant. And you are no longer a Governor, a Governor of a state you bestrode like a colossus.

Readers, you already know I am biased in this piece. I am prejudiced against official pomposity. I rejoice at a bit of deflation, even if it comes through a wave of unprofessionalism.
-Dr Sam Amadi

Spencer Umoren

Rufai is crude, rude, unprofessional and uncouth. Shameful

Guests can be whatever they want; the anchor needs to maintain decorum, professionalism, and emotional intelligence.

Only barely educated and ignorant folks will say anything positive about Rufai’s conduct

Meanwhile, tell the self-obsessed little man, we have Alternative Phrases to his childish, overused “empirical fact”. Just disgusting

1. Observed fact
2. Measured fact
3. Experimental fact.
4. Data-driven fact.
5. Evidence-based fact

OVERHEARD

Suppose the cost per kilometre is a challenging question. How, then, did they arrive at the total cost of the project, which served as the basis for Federal Executive Council approval?

Northwest Nigeria: Security, Humanitarian, Economic Crisis

The Northwest region of Nigeria is currently facing a complex and severe crisis, dominated by widespread violence from armed groups, a severe humanitarian situation, and significant economic challenges.

Principal actors are bandits and other armed groups. Their primary motivation is criminality and profit, including ransom, cattle rustling, and control of mineral resources. Often, these issues are driven by historical grievances and disputes over resources.

The common tactics and impact include mass kidnappings (e.g., hundreds of schoolchildren), violent raids on villages, and mass killings. An estimated 30,000 bandits operate in the region.

Then there are Jihadist factions. They are primarily motivated by ideological insurgency, aiming to impose Islamic law. They deploy targeted attacks on military, communities, and infrastructure. ISWAP was the most prolific Islamic State affiliate globally by mid-2025.

There is a convergence between bandits and jihadists. They form transactional alliances where jihadists provide training and ideology in exchange for bandits’ safe passage and access to resources. This blurs the line between crime and insurgency, enhances operational capabilities, and broadens extremist influence. The designated terrorist group Lakurawa is an example.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

The relentless violence has had a devastating impact on the population of Northwest Nigeria.

• Mass Displacement and Casualties: By April 2024, over 1.3 million people were internally displaced in the North-central and Northwest regions due to violence. In the first half of 2025 alone, insurgent and bandit violence killed at least 2,266 people, a figure that surpassed the total for all of 2024.

• Targeted Attacks on Education: Attacks on schools and mass kidnappings of students are frequent. In March 2024, nearly 400 people were reportedly kidnapped in Kaduna State, including 287 schoolchildren.

• Crippled Essential Services: The insecurity severely disrupts basic services, such as healthcare. Volunteer vaccinators in Zamfara State risk their lives to reach children, navigating bandit attacks and flooded terrain to administer polio vaccines.

Economic Context and Challenges

The security crisis is set against a backdrop of significant economic hardship.

• Deepening Poverty: Nationwide, Nigeria faces its worst cost-of-living crisis in 30 years. Soaring inflation, especially for food, is pushing millions further into poverty.

• Resource-Fuelled Conflict: The violence is partly financed by the region’s abundant mineral resources (gold, copper, lithium), which armed groups exploit to fund their operations. While the federal government is implementing macroeconomic reforms, these improvements have yet to result in better living standards for most Nigerians.

The situation in Northwest Nigeria remains fluid and highly dangerous, characterised by a volatile mix of criminality, ideological insurgency, and deep-seated socio-economic problems.

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni,, minister of defence.