Sir Dave Agwalla, a community leader and opinion moulder has reacted to the recent clash between the former Governor of Ebonyi State and the current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi and that of the Arise TV presenter, Rufai Oseni during a live interview session over the coastal highway projects, pjtvnews gathered.
In his reactions, Agwalla stated that, what was supposed to be a friendly and incisive question and answer parley was turned to a heated, very unfriendly combative session by Rufai Oseni on live television was, to say the least, shocking to most Nigerians who waited to hear from the Minister of Works, Sen Dave Umahi.
Dave Agwalla had described the former Governor of Ebonyi State and the current Minister of Works, Sen Dave Umahi as one of the most effective appointees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He went further to states that, Umahi is the most visible and accessible Minister under the current administration.
Read his full response below;
The Hon. Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi is deservedly described or regarded by Nigerians as the most effective appointee of the current administration of President Tinubu. He is the most visible and accessible Hon. Minister, who no one can say is like his colleagues behind tinted glass windows and can’t be seen in their offices. Engr. Umahi is either in his office seeing people who come to see him or more often than not at construction sites across the country, where he is always paused to address the press.
Why what was supposed to be a friendly and incisive question and answer parley was turned to a heated, very unfriendly combative session by Mr. Rufai Oseni on live television was, to say the least, shocking to most Nigerians who waited to hear from the Hon. Minister.
Unfortunately, instead of asking questions quietly and waiting or even allowing for answers, Rufai was putting it to the Hon. Minister, and wanted him to confirm his allegations.
He was out to embarrass his guest, as he always did, but found the Hon. Minister who had been governor for eight years, and Senate leader, a hard nut to crack or embarrass. Rufai couldn’t intimidate the Hon. Minister with his unverified, unfounded allegations.
Nigerians were shocked to learn from Mr. Oseni himself that it was the Hon. Minister’s office that asked for him to be booked to inform the people about the activities of his ministry.
How many government officials, whether elected or appointed, do so these days? Nigerians were robbed of hearing from their exceptional Hon. Minister because he was asked too many proposterous questions at the same time and was required to confirm them. Where has that ever happened if not on Arise and by Rufai Oseni. His style will only scare potential important guests away from the Arise channel unless his employers move quickly to call him to order.
Sure, the Hon. Minister is a professor of engineering or otherwise engineering teacher in the American parlance of that word. Rufai needs more exposure.
The Hon. Minister of Works is neither the minister of information nor President Tinubu’s Media Advisers who should take questions on government policies.
The Hon. Minister, a pragmatic engineering expert, was there to take questions on pure technical issues, ongoing public infrastructure developments, and why some known interstate roads in the country are yet to receive his attention. For those who know how government work at all levels should help explain to Rufai Oseni that appointees have limitations and that the jobs they are able to do are contingent upon the availability of funds and the order of priority of the executive.
The question now remains who some of our men and women in the journalism profession believe are doing well as an incentive for them to perform better and for others to improve?
If Senator Dave Umahi, the Hon. Minister of Works and the generally believed most effective appointee of government since the current nascent democratic dispensation is not good enough for some Nigerian journalists, who is?
Dave Agwalla,
Okwadike Abia
