Dabiri-Erewa and Oseni Clash Over Journalism Standards

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and Rufai Oseni, an ARISE Television presenter, publicly clashed over journalistic integrity and a social media post related to the Igbo people. The exchange began during a panel session in Lagos on Saturday, which celebrated Kike Abati's 20th anniversary in the media industry.

Dabiri-Erewa accused some journalists of failing to verify facts before reporting, specifically targeting Oseni for misrepresenting her reaction to a post by a user named Stephanie, who allegedly runs an account called "Voice of Igbos." She denied Oseni's claim that she endorsed an offensive description of Igbo people. Oseni responded on X, criticizing Dabiri-Erewa for discussing the matter publicly instead of focusing on her commission's responsibilities.

He maintained that her use of a laughing emoji in response to a derogatory post amounted to an endorsement of its message and challenged her to a public debate to defend his position.