By Soni Irabor
I have read series of comments about this young professional trying to do his job, Mr Rufai Oseni. I have the following advise to give:
When you offer yourself to be interviewed, you must be prepared. Don’t expect to be respected beyond the scope of the role you are there to play – to answer questions concerning your portfolio or responsibility. Above all, before getting to the studio for the interview, you are expected to do enough research on the subject before the interview.
Many guests are often not prepared. Some of them do not even take the advise their assistants give them (if they have assistants at all).
The host (Rufai Oseni in this instance) would have armed himself with a lot of relevant information about the guest and the institution he represents.
When things ‘go south’, such guests become ruffled and discomfitured. Some even become offended when the interviewer insists on answers.
In some cases some guests are caught in their lies and the host insists on the truth, he is branded rude, arrogant and aggressive.
No doubt a level of tact is applied in interviewing skills but this depends on the facts available to the host/interviewer and temperament of the host. I will explain this further, every interviewer has his style apart from the training and exposure he was exposed to.
There have always been bolder interviewers than others. Some are firm, very firm, daring and a stickler for truth.
Such interviewers are not easily compromised. I believe Rufai falls into this category. Rufai is an avid reader, researcher and author. He is a digger! This puts him on collision course with aggrieved guests who feel disrespected by his insistence and boldness.
Rufai Oseni even indirectly forewarns his guests that he has enough information about him or her to make him or her understand he is in for a serious job.
Piers Morgan of ITV’s Good Morning Show (a very controversial host) has been known to take sides against his guests numerous times. It only made him the audience favourite when it was found out that it was he, not the guest, that was armed the truth.
Rufai Oseni appears to be armed with more information than the guests, sometimes.
Rufai has been employed by Arise TV to perform a good and professional job. I think he is tryingtodo just that.
I worked with Rufai at Inspiration 92.3FM and we were sad to let him go.
Are some of his actions justified? Maybe not. Has he insulted any guest? I doubt it, unless his boldness is seen as antagonistic and rude.
I think Rufai Oseni is doing a good job. Apart from fast becoming an audience favourite I believe Rufai is one of the best and boldest interviewers in Nigeria today.
Guests should be more prepared for ANY interview anywhere Radio, TV, Print or Socia Media.
His job is to seek information Your job is to provide it to the best of your ability. Which is why you should ALWAYS be prepared.
Please don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!
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