Suspension Saga: Oseni Rufai, Bwala Trade Words Over Rumoured Sanction

Oseni Rufai, an anchor for Arise Television, and Daniel Bwala, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, got into a furious verbal altercation on Monday after it was said that the broadcaster had been suspended from his position.

After taking a vacation, Rufai returned to hosting duties on Monday and addressed the rumor on the live broadcast of the Arise Morning Show, directly connecting it to Bwala.

“Bwala wants one of my Meta glasses,” Rufai stated live. I have one for him.

“On Monday morning, a government official said that I had been suspended. I usually urge Bwala to present my suspension letter.

“It is an indictment of this government that its spokesperson is lying if he fails to disclose it. So, President Tinubu, instruct Bwala to deliver my letter of suspension.

Bwala reacted quickly, calling Rufai a “adult toddler” and making fun of his freshly displayed Meta glasses in a post on 𝕏 (previously Twitter).

“An adult toddler, @ruffydfire, joked that I visited their station when he wasn’t there, which caught my attention,” Bwala stated.

“I want to start by congratulating you on flaunting a Meta glass you purchased or DEM dashing you during your alleged suspension or break.”

Bwala insisted that his visit to Lagos was a part of a larger media engagement while making fun of Rufai by implying that he was unable to interview him because of what he called a “alleged suspension.”

“You have been in Lagos during this time (perhaps your alleged suspension included being prohibited from leaving Lagos), and your producer could have called you back from your alleged suspension to come to my interview,” he said.

Bwala escalated the argument by challenging Rufai to an in-person interview and accusing him of subtly disparaging co-anchor Dr. Reuben Abati.

“Rufai, you have a studio in Abuja. Take a plane there, and let’s use Charles’ Prime Time to conduct the man-to-man interview. I urge the chairman to put that into action. “I’m waiting, quick, quick, quick!” he exclaimed.