Lere Olayinka Refuses to Answer Questions on Arise News

On a recent episode of Arise News, a significant confrontation unfolded between Rufai Oseni, an anchor, and Lere Olayinka, the senior special assistant on public communication and social media to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. During the program, which included anchors Dr. Reuben Abati and Ayo Mairo-Ese, Olayinka initially engaged with the other two anchors but refused to answer questions from Oseni, whom he referred to as an “enemy.” This refusal was deemed provocative and unacceptable, as a government spokesperson is expected to address questions from all journalists present.

Ayo Mairo-Ese intervened and terminated the interview, emphasizing that Olayinka could not selectively choose which anchors to engage with after accepting the invitation. The incident sparked a broader discussion on the nature of adversarial journalism, highlighting its role in scrutinizing power and ensuring accountability in democratic societies.