Ebonyi Indigenes Speak Out: “They Don’t Represent Us” in Protest Against Arise TV Anchor

• Ebonyi natives living abroad have rejected claims of organizing a protest against Arise TV presenter Rufai Oseni, following his heated exchange with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during a live broadcast. Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu clarified that the faction behind the alleged demonstration does not embody the authentic voice of Ebonyi’s youth. He encouraged young people to avoid being manipulated and to champion accountability. Additionally, he advised Minister Umahi to maintain integrity and openness in his public dealings.

Residents of Ebonyi State living overseas have publicly distanced themselves from reports of a planned protest targeting Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni, following his contentious interaction with Minister Dave Umahi on air.

Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu, representing Ebonyi indigenes abroad, issued a statement on Saturday emphasizing that the alleged protest does not reflect the genuine sentiments of Ebonyi’s youth population.

This statement was released in response to news that some Ebonyi youths intended to demonstrate, demanding an apology from Oseni for his confrontation with Umahi during a televised program.

Oluchukwu expressed that “the faction organizing the protest does not speak for the majority of Ebonyi youths nor align with the collective spirit of the state’s people.”

He called on authentic Ebonyi youths to “rise above external influences, concentrate on their aspirations, and reject being pawns in attacks against journalists or institutions committed to transparency and accountability.”

He further noted that such protests only perpetuate “a culture of blind loyalty and intolerance that has marked Umahi’s unusually authoritarian tenure over the past eight years.”

Highlighting the importance of openness, Oluchukwu stated, “It is essential that no public servant, whether current or former, is perceived as immune to legal scrutiny.”

He also urged Arise News, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the wider public to dismiss “the actions of a self-interested group attempting to protect influential individuals from being held accountable.”

In closing, Oluchukwu appealed to Senator Dave Umahi to “conduct himself with the decorum befitting his office, respond to public inquiries with honesty and humility, and avoid behaviors or statements that could tarnish the reputation of Ebonyi State and its citizens.”