ABUJA — The friction between the Federal Government and sections of the media reached a boiling point on Friday, February 13, 2026, as the Minister of Works, David Umahi, launched a blistering attack on Arise News and its lead anchor, Rufai Oseni.
In a statement that has quickly gone viral, the Minister accused the broadcast station of abandoning professional objectivity in favor of a “premedetermined” and “poisonous” narrative designed to devalue his reputation and the infrastructure achievements of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The “Venom” Allegation
Minister Umahi, known for his straight-talking and often confrontational style, did not mince words when addressing the recent coverage of his ministry’s projects, particularly the controversial Abuja-Kaduna road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“I wasn’t happy with Arise News this morning because of the number of things they said, and Rufai is too fond of doing that,” the Minister declared. “You cannot serve the public with venom and a mind that is already made up. If you are damaging my reputation, I must speak out.”
The Minister argued that the role of a journalist is to seek the truth, not to act as an “adversary” with a hidden agenda. He suggested that some of the questions posed during recent broadcasts were not aimed at clarification but at “ambushing” public officials.
A History of Live-Air Clashes
The bad blood between the Minister and the anchor is not new. In a series of high-octane interviews on The Morning Show, the two have previously locked horns over technical specifications and project costs.
- The “Small Boy” Jab: In one notable exchange, Umahi dismissed Oseni’s line of questioning by telling him, “You are too small for me to report you to Mr. President,” after the anchor alleged that the Minister had complained about him to the Villa.
- The Academic Title Dispute: Tension also flared when Oseni questioned Umahi’s self-awarded title of “Professor of Practice,” a debate that ended with the Minister accusing the anchor of being “disrespectful” to his elders and his office.
Accountability vs. Decorum
The feud has split public opinion down the middle. While supporters of the Minister see him as a “persecuted worker” standing up to a bully, fans of Rufai Oseni argue that the anchor is simply doing his job—asking the tough, multi-billion naira questions that the Nigerian public deserves answers to.
“It’s about respect for the office,” a source close to the Ministry of Works noted. “You can ask questions without being condescending or sounding like you have a personal grudge against the person sitting across from you.”
What Happens Next?
As the 2026 Budget Defence sessions continue at the National Assembly, the Minister remains under intense scrutiny. With the Senate already raising eyebrows over the award of contracts to “generator companies,” the pressure is on Umahi to prove his critics wrong through results rather than rhetoric.
For now, the “War of Words” shows no signs of cooling down. As the Minister seeks to protect his “hard-earned reputation,” the media remains equally determined to hold the “Renewed Hope” infrastructure projects to the highest standard of transparency.
