Dabiri-Erewa, Rufai Oseni trade words over alleged irresponsible journalism

The chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and ARISE Television presenter Rufai Oseni have publicly clashed over journalistic standards and a social media post that touched on the Igbo people.

Dabiri-Erewa opened the exchange on Saturday at a panel session in Lagos, accusing some journalists of reporting without first establishing the facts. The session was held to mark Kike Abati’s 20th anniversary in the media industry.

She singled out Oseni, saying he had misrepresented her reaction to a post as an endorsement of an offensive description of Igbo people.

“We have to ensure that you hold people responsible, but you must be responsible yourself. So we will not accept irresponsible journalism,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

The NiDCOM chairperson said the dispute started when she responded with a smiling emoji to a post by a social media user she identified as Stephanie, who allegedly ran an X account named “Voice of Igbos”. She said Oseni later accused her of describing Igbo people as “monkeys and gorillas”, a claim she denied.

“Somebody replies to her. Then I do a smiley. And then Rufai Oseni comes and says, Abike Dabiri calls everybody — Igbos — monkeys and gorillas,” she said.

She also voiced concern over what she described as a decline in ethical standards across the media industry.

“And let me tell you, some journalism is going to the dogs. There’s no journalism anymore. There are no standards. There are no values,” she added.

Oseni hit back in a series of posts on X, faulting her for raising the matter at a public event. He argued that she should focus on the work of the commission she heads rather than engage him in a public quarrel.

“Abike Dabiri is more concerned about attacking Rufai Oseni in public instead of doing her job,” he wrote.

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The ARISE Television presenter also rejected her account of the emoji incident. He maintained that reacting with a laughing emoji to a post that denigrated an ethnic group amounted to endorsing its message.

“You are guilty as charged. How can you share a laughter emoji at a post that denigrates a tribal group? I put it to you, your laughter here was an endorsement of a denigrating tweet against a certain ethnic group,” Oseni said.

He then challenged her to a public debate, saying he was ready to defend his position and explain why he considered her reaction an endorsement of the controversial post.

“Your problem is you can’t stand the truth. I will like to challenge you to a debate on this issue where I will speak the truth to your face and prove to the world you endorse bigotry,” he wrote.

Oseni further urged Dabiri-Erewa to concentrate on the commission’s mandate and its responsibilities to Nigerians living abroad.