Arise TV host, Rufai Oseni, says he remains unperturbed by the commendation or criticism he receives in the line of duty as a journalist, stressing that he is not in a popularity contest.

Oseni made the remark while speaking at Nigeria’s first-ever Podcast and Storytelling Festival, PodFest Naija – A Festival of Stories, held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to him, he is ready and willing to ask the tough questions that some journalists might shy away from.

“If with what I do in the media, the government feels frantic, then it means I am doing a good job. I like to push the envelope by asking the key questions that people are too scared to ask. I don’t want people to like me — it’s not a popularity contest — but you will respect the questions I ask,” he said.

“I am just here to do a revolutionary brand of work. Let’s build a country where everyone can react and do serious business, not sentiment.”

The first-of-its-kind festival drew over 1,500 creators, storytellers, brands, and policymakers for a day of powerful conversations, cultural showcases, and innovation.

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