Journalist and broadcaster Rufai Oseni has condemned what he described as growing political and tribal bigotry in Nigeria, accusing supporters of the All Progressives Congress of attempting to stop an empowerment trade fair organised by the Lagos State Government in partnership with entrepreneur Nelly Agbogu, popularly known as NaijaBrandChick.
Oseni said critics were calling for the cancellation of the event simply because Agbogu had previously criticised Bola Tinubu and the ruling party.
In a post on his official X account, Oseni wrote, “You can see how bigotry destroys a nation.”
He added, “Some want the Lagos state government to cancel an event because Naijabrandchick had criticised the president in the past.”
The event, the Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair, is expected to empower small businesses and generate about ₦5 billion in sales, according to the state government.
Oseni warned that using political loyalty to determine who deserves to contribute to national development would only worsen poverty and division.
He said, “Joblessness, bigotry, political brigandage, and sectionalism will never make this country grow.”
He argued that criticising the government should not disqualify individuals from offering value to the state.
“So, because she criticised the government, she can’t bring value to the state,” he said.
He added, “The thinking that once you criticised APC in the past, you can’t bring value is shocking.”
Oseni openly declared support for both NaijaBrandChick and the Lagos State Government for going ahead with the project.
He wrote, “I support Naijabrandchick and LASG on this event.”
Agbogu, who has openly criticised Bola Tinubu in the past, is collaborating with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to host the trade fair at Ikeja City Mall as part of the Lagos tourism calendar.
APC loyalists have accused the government of rewarding a perceived opponent instead of party faithful and have called for the event to be scrapped.
Some of the backlash also carried ethnic undertones, with critics questioning why an Igbo entrepreneur should be given such a platform in Lagos.
Others argued that empowerment should not be based on political loyalty or ethnicity.
@opac4u, responding to Oseni, said, “The moment politics decides who deserves to empower others, you’ve already lost the goal of empowerment.”
He further commented, “Criticism isn’t disloyalty. It’s how progress happens.”
Oseni also criticised those he described as “data boys” who attack government critics online for financial rewards.
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He wrote, “Data boi no be work ooo.”
He mocked those opposing the event, saying they would “cry in the comment section”.
Reactions to his post have been mixed, with some supporting Oseni’s stance while others accused him of hypocrisy and bias.
Some social media users argued that Bola Tinubu’s allied supporters are promoting hate and suppressing dissent instead of focusing on development.
Others insisted that public resources should be used to reward political loyalty.
Critics of the backlash say Lagos thrives because of its diversity and that excluding entrepreneurs based on political or ethnic grounds undermines progress.
@Ak_dville said, “Empowerment should be bigger than politics.”
The debate highlights deepening political and ethnic tensions in Nigeria following the 2023 elections and ongoing criticism of the APC government.
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