Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni says President Tinubu’s order to unfreeze Osun State’s bank account comes too late, asserting that the EFCC has already succeeded in damaging the state’s image. Comparing the incident to James Comey’s 2016 interference in the U.S. presidential election, Oseni argued that the public narrative of corruption has already taken root online, making the reversal meaningless against the reputational damage already inflicted.

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During Friday’s broadcast of The Morning Show on Arise Television, anchor Rufai Oseni dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s instruction for the EFCC to unfreeze Osun State’s accounts, contending that the political damage was already done. Oseni argued that the initial move successfully “blackmailed” the state government by creating an indelible public perception of corruption. Drawing a parallel to James Comey’s controversial actions during the 2016 U.S. elections, he emphasized that digital footprints linking Osun State to frozen accounts mean the narrative has already won, rendering a late reversal ineffective.

The political tension arose after a video circulated online showing Governor Okpebholo addressing a gathering and criticizing Governor Adeleke’s public dancing at official events. During the gathering, Okpebholo urged supporters not to support Adeleke in the upcoming Osun governorship election, claiming that his focus on dancing indicates a detachment from governance.

In response to the criticism, Davido took to his Instagram account to share what appeared to be Okpebholo’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. While the post was published without a caption, social media users widely viewed it as a direct counter-response to the governor’s comments about leadership and performance.

Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, Ihunwo explained that his shift in stance is purely a response to Governor Fubara’s call for peace, reconciliation, and unity across the state.

“You are aware that my principal is the Governor of Rivers State, and he has said there is peace in Rivers State and that we need to move on as a state. If we truly support him, we should join him in the Rainbow Coalition,” Ihunwo stated.

Standing by Past Actions and Looking Forward

Addressing criticisms regarding his previous heavy rhetoric against Wike’s camp during the height of the political crisis, Ihunwo maintained that political dynamics evolve and that his core loyalty to Fubara remains absolute. He stressed that he harbours no regrets for defending the governor when he served as youth leader, noting that his past actions were necessary at the time.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Ihunwo emphasized that he will collaborate with Wike’s supporters within Obio/Akpor solely to ensure the success of the governor’s peace mandate, prioritizing state stability over personal ambition.