Drama As ARISE TV Cuts Short Interview With Wike’s Aide Lere Olayinka After He Refuses Rufai Oseni’s Questions

Drama unfolded live on television on Friday after Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, refused to take questions from ARISE News anchor Rufai Oseni, forcing the station to bring the interview to an abrupt end.

Olayinka appeared on The Morning Show alongside the programme’s three anchors, Reuben Abati, Ayo Mairo-Ese and Rufai Oseni. The interview reportedly started smoothly, with Olayinka responding to questions from Abati and Mairo-Ese. Things, however, took a dramatic turn when Rufai Oseni asked him a question relating to the political controversy surrounding the 2027 elections and the treatment of politicians facing corruption allegations.  Instead of answering the question, Olayinka made it clear that he would not engage with Rufai.

“I’m very sorry to say this, Oseni Rufai. I don’t want to answer any question from you.”

He explained that his decision was linked to what he described as Rufai’s previous use of the word “Gbewudani” to describe certain people. Olayinka said he wanted the conversation to be between what he called “reasonable human beings”, rather than engage with someone who would use such language.  Rufai did not get the opportunity to continue with his line of questioning. However, his co-anchor, Ayo Mairo-Ese, immediately objected to Olayinka’s refusal to answer Rufai. She reminded the Wike aide that The Morning Show has three anchors and that, by agreeing to appear on the programme, he was expected to engage with all three. Mairo-Ese subsequently made the station’s position clear, telling Olayinka that there would be “no more questions” if he was unwilling to respond to Rufai.

She then ended the interview.

“We thank you very much for your time with us this morning and hopefully see you again when you’re ready to speak to the three of us.”

And just like that, the interview was over.  

The dramatic exchange immediately generated reactions online, with Nigerians divided over who was in the wrong. While some criticised Olayinka for accepting an invitation to a programme only to refuse questions from one of its anchors, others defended him, arguing that a guest should have the right to decline engagement with an interviewer they believe has been unfair or antagonistic.

This incident has once again highlighted the increasingly heated relationship between political spokespersons and television interviewers, particularly as Nigeria heads towards the 2027 general elections.

For now, what was supposed to be a political interview has turned into one of the morning’s biggest talking points with social media users debating whether Lere Olayinka was right to refuse Rufai’s questions or whether ARISE TV was right to end the interview.