Oseni Rufai, a prominent journalist, has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for requesting $1 million from Arise TV before allowing its governorship candidate in Edo State to be interviewed.
Rufai, in a recent statement on his X handle, criticized the demand, stating that such a sum should be used for more impactful and community-focused initiatives.
Rufai highlighted his priorities by outlining alternative uses for the $1 million, emphasizing that he would prefer to invest in educational and healthcare infrastructure. He mentioned plans to build classroom blocks, establish primary healthcare centers, provide soft loans for entrepreneurs, and offer free healthcare screenings for impoverished individuals.
Furthermore, Rufai noted that the money could also be used to support local agriculture through fertilizer donations to farmers.
He argued that these investments would significantly benefit the community and improve the quality of life for many people, rather than being used for a media interview.
However, his statement underscores a growing discontent with the political practice of monetizing access to candidates and raises questions about the ethics of such demands. Rufai’s comments reflect a broader call for transparency and accountability in political engagements.