Rufai vs Abati: Sharing a TV Table Is Not Sharing the Same History

By Olumide Bajulaiye

The recent exchange between media personalities Oseni Rufai and Reuben Abati has raised questions not only about the quality of political discourse on Nigerian television, but also about the place of respect and professional decorum in public debate.

Abati is 60, while Rufai is 46. Beyond the 14-year age difference, there is a significant gap in their professional and academic journeys.

Abati earned his PhD from the University of Ibadan in 1990 at the age of 24. At that time, Rufai was only about 10 years old, meaning he was still a child and likely in primary school or approaching secondary education.

That historical context does not mean Rufai cannot disagree with Abati. Of course, he can. Age and academic qualifications do not automatically make anyone right. However, disagreement can be expressed with respect, particularly when dealing with someone who is considerably older and more experienced.
There is also a cultural dimension that should not be ignored.

Both Abati and Rufai are Yoruba, and Yoruba culture places considerable emphasis on ìbòwò — respect, particularly towards elders and people who have distinguished themselves through knowledge, experience and achievement. The traditional principle is essentially that respect should be given to whom it is due.

In some traditional Yoruba settings, considering the age difference between the two men, Oseni Rufai could quite easily be old enough to be Reuben Abati’s first child. That comparison is not meant to diminish Rufai; rather, it illustrates the considerable generational gap between them.

More importantly, respect is not supposed to prevent disagreement. A younger person can challenge an elder, just as a less experienced professional can challenge a more experienced colleague. But the manner in which that disagreement is expressed matters.

When Abati said the opposition should bring out its own campaign council list rather than continually focusing on the APC list, he was making a political argument. He also pointed to his more than 40 years of experience in journalism and public commentary.

Rufai’s response—“It is by the years”—may have been intended as a clever retort, but it can reasonably be interpreted as dismissive of the value of experience.

And that is where the criticism becomes legitimate.

The fact that Rufai sits at the same television table with Abati does not mean he should abandon the courtesy ordinarily expected when engaging a senior colleague. A television studio may put two people physically side by side, but it does not erase their different ages, experiences, achievements and professional histories.

There is also the question of education.
Abati had already attained a PhD at 24. Whatever one’s political views about him, that achievement deserves acknowledgement.

Educational attainment does not make a person automatically superior to another, but in a culture that traditionally respects knowledge and scholarship, it is another reason why disagreements should be handled with maturity.

The proper response from Rufai could simply have been: “With respect, Dr Abati, I disagree with you because…”

That would have preserved the argument while demonstrating confidence, intelligence and courtesy.

There is nothing wrong with Rufai being outspoken. Nigerian journalism needs young voices willing to challenge established figures. But challenging a veteran is not the same thing as disrespecting a veteran.

Indeed, the strongest young journalists are those who can stand their ground while still acknowledging the contributions of those who came before them.

Abati’s age and experience do not make him infallible. Rufai’s youth does not make him inferior. What should ultimately determine who is right is the strength of their arguments.

But in a society where respect for elders remains an important cultural value, especially within Yoruba tradition, confidence should not be confused with disrespect.

You can disagree with an elder without dishonouring him. You can challenge his argument without dismissing his experience.

The television camera may place Abati and Rufai at the same table, but it does not erase the years that came before Rufai arrived there.
The lesson is simple: sharing a television platform with a senior colleague is not a licence to disrespect him.

Olumide Bajulaiye is the Publisher, Daily Dispatch Newspaper.