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Gumi, Jingir, MC Oluomo, Fadahunsi can say what Nnamdi Kanu can’t in Nigeria — Rufai Oseni
Arise TV morning show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has accused the Nigerian Government of applying double standards in handling inflammatory statements, saying people’s political, religious, and ethnic affiliations often determine what they can say without consequences.
Oseni made the remarks on Thursday while reacting to the controversy surrounding Senator Francis Fadahunsi’s alleged comment about killing members of the Accord Party ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
He faulted Fadahunsi’s explanation that the viral video had been manipulated by artificial intelligence, saying the senator later appeared to contradict himself by claiming he meant he would defeat his opponents with votes.
Oseni said the police had enough evidence to prosecute the senator if the government was genuinely committed to tackling hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
According to him, Fadahunsi should have been allowed to defend himself after being interrogated, even if the eventual prosecution did not result in a conviction.
He, however, expressed doubts that the senator would face serious consequences, arguing that Nigerians who make controversial statements often escape punishment.
Oseni said the perceived double standard was evident in the treatment of individuals such as Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and convicted Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“The hypocrisy on which the country lives is that there are some that cannot say it. An example goes back to the case of the likes of Sheikh Gumi.
“They can say some things and get away with it. If you are probably an Nnamdi Kanu, you cannot say some things. That’s how the country is structured,” he said.
The broadcaster also linked what he described as Nigeria’s deepening political and religious divisions to the debate over a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Oseni said he had opposed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket on the grounds of religious balancing, arguing that political arrangements in a multi-religious country should reflect fairness.
He also referenced a previously leaked audio involving former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, in which Obi was heard describing the 2023 election as a “religious war.”
Oseni argued that subsequent comments by Sheikh Gumi had reinforced Obi’s concerns about the religious dimension of Nigerian politics.
He maintained that Nigeria’s response to controversial statements often depends on the speaker’s political, religious, ethnic, or racial identity.
“So, what is said in Nigeria depends on where you are when you said it, your political affiliation, your religious affiliation, your racial affiliation, your tribal affiliation, that’s just it,” Oseni said.
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Breaking: Nigerian Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, FG Faces Fresh Salary Pressure
The Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has demanded an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, noting that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The Forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed among the recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000.
“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the Forum said.
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The FWF argued that the Federal Government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.
“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” it said.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in August 2026, demanded an upward review of the minimum wage to N500,000.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government increased the minimum wage to N70,000 per month from N30,000.
However, the cost of living for many Nigerians has tripled between 2024 and 2026.
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The Federal Government has said Nigeria will never support a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government, following claims that the country backed a failed coup attempt in the Niger Republic.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, the claims circulating on social media are baseless and misleading.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and political stability in West Africa and would not support any attempt to remove a government through unconstitutional means.
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“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned,” he said.
The minister also rejected claims that Nigeria, through its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported or endorsed the military takeover in Niger.
He said the Federal Government had already stated its position on the situation in Niger in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.
According to him, Nigeria remains deeply concerned about developments in Niger and wants the country to return peacefully to stability and constitutional order.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace and stability in the neighbouring country particularly important.
“Nigerians at home and abroad should disregard the videos and narratives circulating online, they are intended to create confusion and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” the statement said.
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