FocusNigerianews

There is a clear difference between tough journalism and outright hostility. One serves the public interest. The other serves the ego of the interviewer. Unfortunately, the recent exchange between Mehdi Hasan and presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala fell squarely into the latter category. What viewers witnessed was not a serious interview. It was an attempted public ambush. From the outset, the tone was aggressively confrontational. Questions were framed less as inquiries into governance and more as prosecutorial traps. Responses were repeatedly interrupted before they could develop. Clarifications were brushed aside. The atmosphere was unmistakable: this was not a conversation designed to inform viewers but a spectacle designed to embarrass the guest. Serious journalism does not operate this way. The craft of interviewing demands discipline. It requires the ability to ask difficult questions while still allowing the guest to articulate answers. It requires intellectual c...

Public communication at the highest levels of government is not a casual undertaking. The role of a spokesperson is one of the most demanding assignments in political leadership because it sits at the intersection of policy, perception, and national reputation. Every word, tone, gesture, and response becomes part of the narrative through which both domestic and international audiences judge a government. Recent interview performances by presidential representatives have reignited an important conversation about the professional standards required for spokespersons in the modern media environment. Confronting seasoned international interviewers such as Mehdi Hassan is not merely a media appearance; it is a high-stakes exercise in narrative management. Effective spokespersons are rarely accidental performers. Communication scholars often reference the “10,000-hour rule,” popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, to illustrate the level of sustained practice required to achieve mastery...

Action Alliance political party has signalled its readiness to adopt a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Showunmi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ogun State. Leaders and members of the party made their position known during a solidarity visit to Showunmi in Abeokuta on Friday, where they expressed interest in working with him ahead of the next electoral cycle.  The delegation said the move was part of efforts to strengthen the opposition and build a formidable platform capable of challenging the ruling party in the state. Addressing the gathering, Showunmi disclosed that several political parties had approached him to contest the governorship election under their platforms, noting that the Action Alliance was among those indicating strong interest in adopting him as its candidate. He noted that the spate of litigations involving opposition parties presents a troubling picture for Nigeria’s democracy. Sowunmi said “This is about a p...

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Health,  Dr. Kehinde Ololade has decribed the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader Dr Dayo Israel as a great mobilizer with passion and energy that has used his popularity among the youths to make the party more popular in the country. Dr  Kehinde Ololade made this statement today in Abeokuta while playing host to the All Progressive Congress National Youths Leader at his ward 4 Keesi,  while on encouragement visit to entreat members to further faciliate the party's e- registration exercise. While on answering questions from reporters the All Progressive Congress National Youths Leader described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as change maker, noting that he should be re-elected, citing his administration’s commitment to youths inclusion, economic reforms and policies that are beginning to stabilise the nation’s economy. Dr. Dayo who commenced a nation...

Egba Economic Summit Group is worried over the danger that the delay in completing Abeokuta Ajebo road poses to economic development and security. In a letter dated 16th January 2026 signed by the President of the Summit. Dr.Gbenga Adeoye, 8 issues that calls for worries was raised. The summit also copied the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, The Osile, the Olowu, former Governor Olusegun Osoba the Akinrogun of Egbaland and Babalaje of Egbaland; Chief Olusegun Osunkeye. A copy of the letter made available to newsmen in Abeokuta reads : We bring warm greetings to you and your entire team on the various Renewed Hope Projects going on across the country. One of it, is the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway which also passed through Ijebu Water Side in Ogun State as well as the award of Badagry Sokoto Road which passed through Soyoye Rounder area in Abeokuta. The night repairs of Sango-Abeokuta Road is also worthy of note and commendable. We appreciate that.  Eg...

EGBA ECONOMIC SUMMIT GROUP PLEADS WITH GOVERNMENT & OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO RESUSCITATE ABEOKUTA CITY CENTRE. Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta well  known as the  commercial nerves of Abeokuta and ahead of Sapon in terms of elite activities and also  the closest to Ibara GRA in terms of Value and Standard. It serves as the cluster for  Banks in the state Capital. Apart from that,  it use to be the state secretariat. As a matter of fact the Governor's office use to be at Oke Ilewo and that should be a tourist centre today for Generation unborn to visit and connect with the history of the state creation. OPIC and other major entities are currently at the same Oke Ilewo. First Avenue Road in Ibara GRA which was renamed as Aderupoko but still carties the old name flows directly from OPIC and Housing Corporation passing through Gateway Mortgage Bank. In the design of Abeokuta City Centre, Access Bank and GTBank  were meant to build the...