When I wrote about the fiery exchange between Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni and Works Minister David Umahi, my focus was not on who shouted louder, but on where the line lies between assertiveness and aggression in journalism. I argued that while journalists must hold public officials accountable, they must also uphold the dignity and decorum that distinguish a professional from a provocateur.
But now, Umahi is back in the headlines — and for the wrong reasons again. This time, not with Rufai, but with a young female reporter, Lailah Johnson, also of Arise TV. The video of their encounter is painful to watch. The journalist asked a perfectly civil and relevant question, yet the Minister chose mockery over substance. He ridiculed her English accent instead of addressing the issue she raised.
Here, the tables turned. While Rufai once stood accused of being combative, this time the Minister came across as condescending. And yet again, the journalist — a much younger, female reporter — showed more composure and professionalism than the man entrusted with a national portfolio.
Civility in journalism should never be mistaken for servility. Journalists are not subordinates to public officials; they are agents of the people’s right to know. When a reporter asks a question, she’s not doing it for herself — she’s doing it for millions who cannot stand in that room. The least a public official can do is respond respectfully.
The beauty of this latest exchange is that the reporter didn’t lose her calm. She repeated her question, clearly and courteously, exposing the pettiness of her interviewer’s response without raising her voice. In that moment, she embodied the true ethics of journalism — firm, factual, and unflustered.
So yes, journalists must be civil. But public officials must also be civilised. The microphone is not a weapon, and neither is ministerial power. Real strength lies in answering hard questions with humility, not hostility.
It’s ironic that both incidents — Rufai’s verbal duel and Lailah’s quiet composure — involve the same Minister. Perhaps there’s a lesson here for both sides: for journalists, that balance and restraint are powerful tools; and for public officials, that respect earns more authority than arrogance ever will.
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