A live television interview involving Lere Olayinka, media aide to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, ended abruptly after he declined to respond to questions from Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni.
The incident occurred during The Morning Show on Friday, September 4, 2026, where Olayinka appeared as a guest alongside the programme’s three anchors, Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
The conversation became tense when Oseni took his turn to question Olayinka on political issues involving Wike and the wider controversy surrounding the treatment of corruption allegations against political figures...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Oseni reportedly asked Olayinka to comment on the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council despite corruption related allegations previously associated with her.
Rather than respond to the question, Olayinka made it clear that he was unwilling to answer questions from Oseni. He expressed his displeasure with the anchor over comments he believed Oseni had previously made about certain individuals.
Olayinka said he preferred to engage in a discussion with what he described as “reasonable human beings” and objected to Oseni’s use of the term “Gbewudani.”
The response immediately changed the atmosphere of the programme, with co anchor Ayo Mairo-Ese taking exception to Olayinka’s remarks.
Mairo-Ese reminded the Wike aide that he was appearing on a programme hosted by three anchors and that he was expected to engage with all of them. She stressed that Olayinka was aware of the programme’s format before accepting the invitation.
Despite the intervention, Olayinka maintained his position and repeatedly stated that he would not answer questions from Oseni.
With the disagreement showing no sign of being resolved, Mairo-Ese brought the interview to an end. She thanked Olayinka for appearing on the programme and indicated that the conversation could continue on another occasion when he was prepared to engage with all three presenters.
The dramatic exchange has since attracted attention online, with the incident generating debate over the responsibilities of political spokespersons when appearing on live television and the extent to which interview guests can determine which journalists or presenters they are willing to answer.
The episode also highlights the increasingly heated relationship between political actors and television journalists, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Olayinka has previously been involved in public exchanges with Oseni, making the latest confrontation another highly discussed moment between the two personalities.
The video of the encounter has circulated widely online, with viewers expressing different opinions about whether Olayinka was justified in refusing to answer the questions or whether accepting an invitation to a programme with multiple anchors meant he should have engaged with all of them.
