The reaction of social media has been swift on the matter of ‘that
lady that interviewed’ Tiwa Savage, following the accusations of
infidelity and neglect by her husband, Tunji Balogun.
The lady is Azuka Ogujiba, a ThisDay senior reporter and former editor with its Style magazine.
Many on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have condemned her as
“aloof”, “detached”, “razz”, “lacking in empathy”, “the spokesperson for
Nigerian patriarchy”, even “disgraceful”.
Some have said PulseNG, the online platform that published the video
interview “could have done better in picking an interviewer for that
story.”
YNaija can now exclusively report that Azuka was not doing the interview on behalf of Pulse NG.
According to a source who is close to the journalist but who spoke
anonymously: “This was not a Pulse interview at all o. Azuka had a
pending interview with Tiwa for about a month, but Tiwa had not found
time to do the interview. So immediately this Teebillz wahala broke,
Azuka went to Tiwa and said ‘oya let’s do the interview.”
“She met this Pulse guys there,” corroborated a source close to Tiwa.
“They had basically just camped at Tiwa’s house begging her for an
exclusive. When Tiwa decided to give her interview to Azuka, they begged
Azuka for the rights to just record the interview with her.”
“Azuka is not a TV presenter, she didn’t prepare to do a TV
interview, she just came there to do her own work, and so she won’t be
accused of being selfish and not helping a colleague, she allowed Pulse
to record on camera, while Tiwa got ready. That’s how the whole world is
killing her for being a bad TV presenter.”
In view of the whirlwind of criticism however, Ogujiuba, a well-respected journalist, has been silent.
“She evidently thought it was best to act detached in the interview
since she is close to Tiwa and that backfired,” her friend added.
“I believe it’s best for her to speak out in public and clear the
air, but Azuka no dey hear word. Knowing her, she doesn’t give a damn.”