Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has reacted to Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni’s reported interest in interviewing the President, accusing the journalist of using controversy and criticism to attract the attention of prominent figures.
Bwala made the remarks in a post on his official X handle on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in which he launched a strong criticism of Oseni’s style of journalism and questioned his suitability to interview President Tinubu.
According to Bwala, Oseni’s approach involves antagonising and criticising the very individuals he seeks to interview, arguing that such a strategy is designed to generate attention and controversy around his work.
The presidential aide further accused the Arise TV anchor of building his public profile around what he described as hate, vitriol, fake news and blackmail.
Bwala also alleged that Oseni was pursuing the interests of Peter Obi while operating from behind the television set, claiming that the anchor had become increasingly frustrated as he perceived Obi’s political prospects to be diminishing ahead of the 2027 election.
He accused Oseni of extending his confrontational approach to other journalists, including his fellow anchors, and described him as a “clout chaser.”
Bwala went on to question Oseni’s suitability to interview the President, arguing that other Arise TV personalities, including veteran broadcaster Reuben Abati and Ojy Okpe, possessed greater experience and the emotional intelligence required to handle what he described as serious issues.
He further claimed that Oseni’s usefulness to the station was largely connected to the controversy generated by his on-air style, while suggesting that more established journalists were deployed when the station sought to engage what Bwala described as serious people.
The presidential aide concluded by suggesting that Oseni should recognise the role controversy plays in his visibility, while reiterating his criticism of the anchor’s perceived political alignment and interviewing style.