A Campaign Rally Is Not a Budget Presentation, and Legitimate Criticism Must Never Become a Substitute for Professional Objectivity
By Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
Rufai Oseni’s criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech at the Kaduna flag-off of the 2027 presidential campaign raises serious questions about professional journalism, political understanding and respect for constituted authority.
During his ARISE News commentary on October 26, 2026, Oseni described the President as “rambling” and suggested that he could have prepared a better speech than the President’s speechwriters. He argued that Tinubu should have outlined his administration’s achievements, explained Nigeria’s economic position and presented his vision for the next four years.
Criticism is legitimate. However, describing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as “rambling” is unnecessarily disparaging, disrespectful and inconsistent with the professional restraint expected of responsible journalism.
Journalism should interrogate leadership through superior reasoning, not personal ridicule.
Oseni’s suggestion that he could prepare a superior presidential speech raises an interesting question: was he merely demonstrating confidence in his writing abilities, or indirectly advertising his services to the Presidency? We would not presume that he was seeking recruitment.
Nevertheless, his commentary suggests a misunderstanding of the political purpose of the Kaduna gathering.
A POLITICAL RALLY IS NOT A POLICY LECTURE
President Tinubu attended Kaduna as the APC presidential candidate addressing supporters, stakeholders and prospective voters.
Campaign speeches differ fundamentally from Independence Day addresses, budget presentations and presidential broadcasts. They mobilise supporters, communicate political confidence, establish electoral contrasts and inspire participation.
Successful political communication requires different messages for different audiences.
The President cannot be expected to reproduce an exhaustive catalogue of government achievements at every gathering simply to satisfy individual television commentators.
Nigerians certainly deserve to understand how economic reforms will improve their living standards. However, that responsibility extends throughout the campaign, not necessarily every speech.
HAS THE PRESIDENT BEEN SILENT ABOUT HIS ACHIEVEMENTS?
Certainly not!
Over the past three years, President Tinubu has repeatedly communicated his administration’s achievements and reform agenda across education, energy, agriculture, solid minerals, infrastructure and public finance.
NELFUND has expanded educational financing opportunities, while other youth-development initiatives are being implemented. Plans are underway to showcase beneficiaries whose experiences will demonstrate the practical impact of these interventions.
In oil and gas, the administration has introduced investment incentives, promoted gas development and pursued reforms to attract capital.
Agriculture remains central to food security, with the World Bank-supported Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria programme supporting irrigation development and a national ambition to expand irrigated cultivation substantially by 2030.
Solid minerals reforms seek to diversify export earnings and reduce petroleum dependence.
These initiatives have featured repeatedly in government communications.
Indeed, President Tinubu’s October 1, 2026 Independence Day address explained his economic direction and the transition from painful reforms towards national prosperity.
Must every subsequent speech reproduce that address?
Furthermore, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has been exceptionally communicative, regularly explaining government policies, economic performance, investment prospects and future priorities.
Other ministers also engage the public through interviews, briefings and policy announcements. The frequency of these engagements arguably makes this one of Nigeria’s most communicative administrations.
What more does Rufai Oseni expect? Must the President personally repeat every ministerial briefing at a political rally?
The administration communicates through multiple institutional channels. No single campaign speech should carry the entire weight of government policy.
A discerning journalist must distinguish between an absence of information and a failure to acknowledge information already publicly available.
SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED
President Tinubu has announced social protection measures to cushion vulnerable Nigerians against economic hardship.
These include cash transfers, small-business support, cooperative financing and targeted household interventions.
The establishment and funding of zonal development commissions also provide opportunities for regional development and assistance to underserved communities.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has intensified its consumer-protection activities, addressing exploitative commercial practices affecting households.
Significantly, on October 22, Vice President Kashim Shettima chaired the National Economic Council meeting at which Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele presented a 90-day economic action plan targeting food affordability, household relief, investment bottlenecks and accelerated project delivery.
Furthermore, President Tinubu approved EFCC monitoring of Federation Account allocations to states and local governments following substantial increases in subnational revenues.
This raises an important question: why concentrate criticism almost exclusively on the Presidency when governors and local government chairmen also possess constitutional responsibilities and increased financial resources to improve citizens’ welfare?
The real issue is implementation, accountability and measurable improvements in ordinary Nigerians’ lives.
THE PRESIDENT IS ENTITLED TO CHALLENGE THE OPPOSITION
Perhaps Oseni was particularly uncomfortable with President Tinubu’s criticism of opposition figures associated with previous privatisation exercises and the resulting workforce retrenchments.
The President accused political opponents of contributing to economic hardship through the disposal of government assets and associated job losses.
Such claims are legitimate subjects of political debate and should be examined against historical evidence.
Nevertheless, opposition politicians routinely attack the President’s policies, leadership and political record.
Why should the President be denied the opportunity to challenge theirs?
Political competition cannot operate on the principle that the opposition may attack freely while the incumbent must remain perpetually defensive.
A campaign platform is precisely where competing political records and visions should be interrogated.
This is political polemics, not an academic seminar.
Rufai Oseni is not a politician and appears not to understand political polemics. He should recognise the distinction between political campaigning and formal presidential policy communication.
RESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT THE SILENCING OF JOURNALISM
Nigeria’s cultural traditions emphasise respect for elders and constituted authority.
As the Yoruba wisely observe, “Ọ̀rọ̀ pẹ̀lẹ́ ló ń yọ obì lápò, ọ̀rọ̀ líle ló ń yọ idà” — gentle words bring out kola nuts, while harsh words draw swords. Criticism does not lose its strength when delivered respectfully; rather, it gains credibility.
President Tinubu is not above criticism. Neither are his speechwriters.
However, constitutional freedom of expression does not require ridicule, condescension or personal insults.
Oseni is entitled to his opinions, but other Nigerians may be considerably better informed about the administration’s policies and political communication strategies.
Respect for the office of President is not political submission; it is institutional maturity.
Equally, government supporters should defeat hostile narratives through superior arguments, sound intellect and credible evidence rather than intimidation or retaliation.
NIGERIA’S GREAT RESET: THE BROADER VISION
The forthcoming publication, Nigeria’s Great Reset, scheduled for launch in November 2026, will present the administration’s vision, policies, reform achievements, institutional challenges and development priorities through 2031.
Supported by documentary evidence, official statistics and measurable indicators, the publication examines economic transformation, investment, education, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, social protection and subnational accountability.
It addresses the very questions Oseni raised, alongside other critical national development issues.
A complimentary copy will be made available to him for his consideration.
Three years of reform, eight years of transformation. The ultimate test is measurable delivery, not rhetoric.
THE FINAL WORD
Kaduna was a political campaign event. President Tinubu spoke as a politician seeking renewed public confidence, not as a finance minister presenting an economic report.
The administration has consistently communicated its policies through presidential addresses, ministerial briefings, National Economic Council deliberations and institutional programmes.
Journalists must recognise these distinctions.
Rufai Oseni owes President Tinubu and his speechwriters an unreserved apology for his unnecessarily disparaging language.
The President owes Nigerians accountability. Journalists owe Nigerians accuracy, fairness, objectivity and professionalism.
As the Hausa remind us, “Hankali shi ne girma” — wisdom and sound judgment are the true measures of maturity. Journalism must reflect that wisdom, particularly when addressing the highest office in the land.
Criticism is a democratic right. Professional restraint is a responsibility.
And respect for the Presidency is not weakness; it is political maturity.
