- ‘You Should Know Better!’ – Abike Dabiri Faces Off With Rufai Oseni Over Fake Ethnic Remark Post at Eko Hotels
- The cordial exchange quickly turned serious when Dabiri-Erewa questioned him about a post he had shared months earlier
- Rufai reportedly denied knowledge of the post’s origins
A brief moment of tension played out at “The Ethics of Governance” event held at Eko Hotels, Lagos, on October 23, 2025, when Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni, was confronted by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Rufai, who arrived late to join the panel session, had just finished delivering his remarks when he approached some of the guests, including Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, to exchange pleasantries.
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However, the cordial exchange quickly turned serious when Dabiri-Erewa questioned him about a post he had shared months earlier on X (formerly Twitter).
The post, which circulated widely at the time, falsely claimed that Dabiri-Erewa had referred to members of the Igbo ethnic group as “monkeys and gorillas.”
According to eyewitnesses, Dabiri-Erewa confronted the journalist, stating that the misleading comment had actually originated from an account identified as “Voice of Igbo,” allegedly operated by a Lagos-based woman known for inflammatory posts. The account had also used derogatory terms such as “mother ape” and “bigot” to insult the NiDCOM boss.
Rufai reportedly denied knowledge of the post’s origins, insisting he was unaware of the misinformation or any direct link to it.
Dabiri-Erewa, however, reminded him that as a journalist, he had a duty to verify information before sharing or amplifying it on social media platforms known for spreading falsehoods.
Despite Rufai’s attempts to clarify his stance to other dignitaries present including Channels Television Chairman John Momoh and business leader Mahmud Alli Balogun the atmosphere grew noticeably tense.
Shortly after the exchange, as Dabiri-Erewa began her panel session, Rufai Oseni was seen quietly leaving the venue.
