Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ignited a fresh round of political controversy on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with a pointed attack on Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni.
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to ridicule Oseni’s earlier visit to Abia State to inspect the infrastructure projects being executed by Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
In a tweet, Olayinka posted a video clip of Oseni’s visit to Abia and delivered a scathing assessment of the journalist’s conduct, stating: “He was paid to go to Abia to celebrate this less than 3km street road. Then, he didn’t remember to ask the cost of the road per metre and he didn’t PUT IT TO anyone. He simply went to Abia to chop.”
The core of Olayinka’s attack lies in the visible juxtaposition of Oseni’s professional conduct.
Just a day prior, Oseni was involved in a highly charged and viral live television interview with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, regarding the cost and scope of federal road projects, including the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
During that interview, Oseni aggressively employed his signature phrase, “I put it to you,” to challenge Umahi on the true cost-per-kilometer of the projects, a line of inquiry that led to a heated exchange with the Minister.
Olayinka’s observation suggests that Oseni intentionally failed to apply the same rigorous, cost-focused questioning during his tour of Governor Otti’s projects in Abia.
The road segments Oseni inspected, including a seemingly small street road, were reportedly celebrated by the journalist and members of his entourage.
Olayinka accused Oseni of dropping his journalistic objectivity and critical edge—especially the vital question of the road’s unit cost—in favor of a favorable narrative, hinting at a compromise for personal gain.
This latest broadside from Wike’s aide is a continuation of the public feud between the two figures, which has escalated over recent months with several verbal clashes on social media and live television over issues ranging from land allocation allegations against Minister Wike to personal attacks on Oseni’s background.
Here is the link of the video Olayinka posted and the screenshot of his tweet:
Olayinka’s tweet ensures that the issue of journalistic integrity, political patronage, and the contentious debate over infrastructure costs will remain at the forefront of national discourse. See, More, Here>>>
Explore More News By Using The Button Above