A coalition of young people under the aegis of Concerned Youths for Distinguished Senator Engr. David Umahi on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, demanding a public apology from Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni.
The protest followed Oseni’s heated on-air exchange with the Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, during a live interview on Arise Television’s The Morning Show earlier in the week.
The aggrieved youths, who stormed major streets in Abakaliki carrying placards with various inscriptions, accused Oseni of “disrespecting and attempting to embarrass” the Minister during the broadcast. They gave the journalist and the Arise TV management 24 hours to tender an unreserved public apology or face a mass action across the South-East.
Placards displayed by the protesters carried messages such as “Senator Umahi is a competent and trusted engineer,” “Arise TV must apologize now,” and “Youths stand with Umahi: Architect of Nigeria’s road revolution.”
