Public engagement demands knowledge, humility, and fairness — especially from those who occupy the nation’s media frontlines.
It is therefore concerning when an anatomist turned journalist, expected to enlighten the public, mistakes aggression for intellect. Such was the case in the recent encounter between Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni and the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON.
Rufai Oseni’s presence to have passion for national discourse is undeniable, yet such presence without depth can quickly become noise.
Rufai has a background in Animal Anatomy and Physiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Oseni’s, his transition into journalism is commendable. However, understanding complex technical subjects like engineering, cost analysis, and infrastructure design requires more than rhetorical flair. It requires the discipline to listen, learn, and engage with facts.
During his interview with Minister Umahi in the morning of today, October 7, 2025, Rufai appeared eager to challenge the cost variations in federal road projects, insisting on a fixed cost per kilometer, he was throwing all shades of confrontational and baseless questions. The Minister, with decades of experience as a structural engineer and former governor, took time to explain what most civil engineers understood - construction costs differ based on terrain, material type, soil conditions, design specifications, and logistics. Hence, what government agencies can reasonably provide is an average cost per kilometre — not a universal figure for every project.
The Minister’s calm, factual explanations stood in contrast to Rufai’s combative tone. The exchange quickly turned into what many Nigerians on social media described as a “masterclass,” with the Minister carefully unpacking engineering and budgeting principles that journalists and citizens alike could learn from.
This is not Rufai’s first brush with controversy. His public altercation with traffic officers in Lagos — and his now-infamous question, “Do you know who I am?” — drew wide criticism and exposed a side of him that appeared inconsistent with the humility expected of a public voice. While everyone is entitled to error, repeated lapses suggest a need for deeper reflection on the responsibilities that come with national influence.
Journalism remains one of democracy’s strongest pillars, but it must be anchored on fairness and intellectual rigour.
Public office holders, too, should be questioned but such questioning must spring from knowledge, not sensationalism.
Minister Umahi’s composure and technical clarity during that interview shows not only leadership but also the difference between genuine expertise and showmanship.
Nigeria deserves a media space where facts triumph over theatrics, and where journalists use their platforms to educate, not agitate.
In that recent exchange, Umahi did not just defend his ministry’s position; he taught a vital public lesson — one that may well be remembered as the University of Umahi and will not be forgotten in a hurry by Rufai.
Francis Nwaze
