Mogaji Wole Arisekola, a veteran journalist, has heavily criticized Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni, describing his interview style as “Bolekaja Broadcasting” due to perceived aggression, interruptions, and a lack of journalistic decorum
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]irst, a thunderous round of applause for my brother and esteemed media colleague, Mr. Kunle Rasheed, for his piercing exposé last weekend on the infamous Arise TV anchor, Mr. Rufai Oseni. He hit the nail right on the head!
Since that article went live, my phone hasn’t stopped buzzing. Calls have poured in from colleagues at home and abroad—seasoned professionals, all stunned by the unchecked antics of Mr. Oseni on national television.
Let’s be clear: I’m not in the business of attacking anyone brave enough to appear as a guest on a TV program.
As a publisher with global reach and decades in the media trenches, I respect the sanctity of free speech. But what we’re seeing on Arise TV isn’t journalism—it’s chaos disguised as commentary.
Sadly, many Nigerians seem to revel in what I call “Bolekaja Broadcasting”—loud, aggressive, ego-driven theatrics that generate more heat than light. And Mr. Oseni? He’s the poster child of that carnival.
Instead of asking probing, intelligent questions, Rufai Oseni prefers to play the prosecutor—launching into hostile, ambush-style interrogations that resemble courtroom cross-examinations.
The problem? He lacks the finesse, discipline, and fairness even a half-decent lawyer would bring to the table.
In any reputable journalism school, the right of reply is sacred. You ask, and then you listen—respectfully. But Rufai?
He bulldozes through guest responses, interrupts with reckless abandon, and drowns out reason with sheer volume. It’s not dialogue—it’s a one-man show.
What should be a platform for truth-seeking and civic enlightenment has been reduced to a shouting match—an ego-fest where one man’s voice must always be the loudest in the room.
That’s not journalism. That’s performance art—badly executed.
Mr. Rufai’s style reminds me of a WWE wrestling match—say, The Undertaker vs. Mighty Igor. Full of sound and fury, but ultimately scripted, shallow, and void of real substance.
You sit glued to your screen for two hours, only to walk away realizing it was all show—no depth, no insight, no takeaway.
Honestly? I’d rather tune into a Prime Minister’s Questions session in the British Parliament—where wit, intellect, and decorum reign—than waste another minute watching Arise TV’s circus of ego.
Nigeria deserves better. We need a media culture anchored in credibility, fairness, and professionalism.
Until we stop mistaking volume for value, and arrogance for accountability, we’ll keep spiraling into the abyss of shallow sensationalism.
Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.
Source: Read more at thesun.ng
