The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has written a letter of reminder to the Arise Television and its reporter Oseni Rufai reminding them about the seven-day ultimatum issued to them regarding the ‘unverified’ and ‘misleading’ report on alleged certificate racketeering at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku, ends on Friday, 7th March 2025.
The reminder letter signed by the president Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan and a copy obtained by LEADERSHIP Friday said, “The national President led a fact-finding delegation to Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, to independently verify the claims aired by Arise TV. The team was received by the institution’s management, led by the Rector, who provided them documented evidence disproving the allegations.
“Our findings revealed the following: Condemnation of Arise TV and Oseni Rufai’s Unprofessionalism. It is unacceptable that Arise TV, a reputable media organization, broadcasts such damaging misinformation without proper investigation.
“This is a direct attack on the credibility of Nigeria’s Polytechnic education system and has caused serious reputational damage to the institution, its students, and graduates”.
Furthermore, the student body noted that “Mr. Oseni Rufai is not a trained journalist. He studied Animal Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, with no professional certification in journalism.
“This further explains why he has repeatedly misrepresented facts, blackmailed public figures, and compromised media ethics in numerous instances, including: misinformation against former President Muhammadu Buhari, misinformation against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, misinformation against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to mention a few and numerous baseless accusations and blackmail tactics targeting institutions and public figures.”
The student association leadership went further to aver that it is disheartening that a respected platform like Arise TV would entrust such a delicate profession to an individual without journalistic credibility.
NAPS demands include that Arise TV and Oseni Rufai publicly retract the false report and formally apologise to Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, its students, alumni, and the polytechnic education system.
“Conduct a proper investigative report to identify and expose the actual perpetrators of the alleged certificate fraud, commit to upholding ethical journalism and verify all claims before publication in the future.
“Final Ultimatum: Occupy Arise TV Globally if our demands are not met by Friday, 7th March 2025, we will mobilize 0.05% of the 28.1 million Polytechnic students in Nigeria to shut down Arise TV offices nationwide. This will be extended to Arise TV locations in the UK, USA, South Africa, and Nigeria to ensure that the station is held accountable for its misinformation and reckless journalism.
“We call on all Nigerian Polytechnic Students and our counterparts in South Africa, the UK, and the USA to be on standby for mass action. The reputation of Polytechnic education cannot be sacrificed on the altar of careless journalism.
“We stand firm in our commitment to protecting the integrity of Polytechnic education in Nigeria. The time for accountability is now!” it said.
Their reminder letter and final ultimatum was copied the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Department of State Services (DSS HQ & Lagos Command) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF HQ & Lagos Command).
