After Arise TV claimed that they received oblique calls from high-ranking APC campaign officials urging them to dismiss its presenter, Rufai Oseni, Nigerians have been backlashing the ruling party, and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The station was said to have told the callers that it does not fire journalists based on their viewpoints.
The media outfit, it was further learnt said it gives its editors “the freedom to air their opinions without restraint” and that “The Office of the Ombudsman” was established to handle complaints and sanction any staff members who abused their positions.
In response, Nigerians have expressed shock at the APC’s capacity to call for the firing of a journalist and have questioned what their presidential candidate would do in the event that he were to be elected.
A Twitter user with the account,
@BarrTailorson, wrote, “Have you heard of Tinubu asking Arise TV to sack Rufai Oseni?
Does any evil exist outside this man?
Such lowest of the lows.
Tufiakwa.”
Another user, @Evolistic said, “Those calling for the management of Arise TV to sack some of their staff ( Rufai Oseni) in my mind are the haters of truth. Evil men benefitting from an evil system will always want it to remain. Dem no go sack anybody for revealing the truth to Nigerians.”
Also, @Ebuka_p write, “Tinubu is already attacking free speech. Imagine what will happen if Tinubu wins. He will close down Arise TV and any other news media that isn’t singing his praise. Tinubu wants Arise to sack Oseni Rufai for speaking the truth. Nigerians be warned.”