Advertising great and boss of Prima Garnet, Lolu Akinwunmi, has also bared his mind on the trending Rufai Oseni style of conducting interviews.
Veteran broadcaster, Soni Irabor had commended the Arise TV host days back. However, reacting to that commendation, Akinwunmi noted that Oseni is biased, oftentimes rude, impatient and so on.
Let’s listen to his input in full:
Dear Soni.
Everything you wrote about Rufai is true, but you either glossed over his drawbacks or presented him as if he doesn’t have any. Let me tell you a few:
1• He is biased. No one expects an interviewer not to have his or her preferences, but they must not be so obvious as to affect his conduct and presentation. I am not a supporter of any political party or political personality, but Rufai obviously has something against a party, and it’s candidates and reflects this in his questions and comments.
2• Rufai is oftentimes rude. Fact. The way he asks questions and counters his guests’ responses is intemperate. And some words are inappropriate. In addition you don’t sneer at and mock your guests. You don’t tell your guest he could walk out of the programme if he so pleased. You can save these for when the programme is over.
3• An interviewer must learn to be patient. Rufai asks a question and while the guest is responding he cuts in, often rudely and leaves the guest frustrated. And then he begins to sneer and taunt. He doesn’t ask any harder questions than Amanpour. But watch the lady, she is often patient for the guest to finish before drilling in the next question. He is belligerent.
4• Rufai has been known to openly and in rancorous manner disagree even with his colleagues. Yes you can hold a different opinion, but don’t go about it as if your viewpoint must triumph. This is wrong.
5• I have heard people including you Soni say he’s brilliant and reads a lot etc. No doubt. But I have also seen him encounter guests who knew more and were better prepared. What did he often do? He resorted to bullying and obstinacy rather than accept that the guest knew more and had prepared better.
Soni, overall, Rufai is good and holds promises. However he is like raw Diamond that needs to be polished to bring out the beauty. And people like you who have more experience than he does need to point out these things to him. To give him the impression he’s okay as is, will not help him.
While two professionals can’t be the same, I rather like Okinbaloye’s style. He achieves better results and is to me more professional.
My love to Betty.
Thank you Soni.
- Akinwunmi is an advertising great