“Some journalists don’t have any brain especially Arise TV” — Arise TV Presenter Ojy Okpe Under Fire After Asking Dangote If He Still Wants A Son At 69
An exclusive interview on Arise TV has sparked a major backlash after presenter, Ojy Okpe, asked Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, if he still hopes to have a male heir to carry his family name.
In the interview, Okpe said: “You’ve done fantastically well. And you know, you are almost 70. You’re 69 years old at this moment. And you know, in Kano’s traditional society, there is still an expectation of a male heir to carry the family name and legacy forward. Do you still hope to have a son?”
Dangote, who maintained his composure, responded bluntly that a son is not his priority. “That’s when I think, you know, it’s not my priority. Let me, you know, say it bluntly, it’s not really my priority because today as, you know, we speak, God controls everything. And for me, really, you know, sometimes, yeah, you can pray for God to give you a son, but that son might be the one that will take down the name of the family down. So sometimes when God doesn’t give you something, don’t push. I don’t think if the son would have done better than these three daughters that I have,” Dangote said.
While Dangote’s answer was widely praised as a powerful statement on gender equity and modern succession, Okpe’s line of questioning triggered a storm on social media, with many describing it as intrusive, regressive and unprofessional for a business interview.
Leading the criticism, Adesina Jr [@adesinapelumi_] said: “I’m honestly disappointed that you could ask such an irritating question. This is not a Kano belief, so please stop bringing your myopic traditional mentality to the North. There are no such expectations anywhere. This is a slap on Arise TV’s credibility.”
Prisca [@Beautifugift] wrote: “Asking a 69-year-old man with three daughters if he would still like to have a male child is such a ridiculous and insensitive question. What exactly is the implication? That the daughters he already has are somehow not important?”
Bàbátúndé Johnson [@btunddej] also condemned the question, saying: “Only an Ibo woman would ask this kind of personal question in a business interview. Some questions simply cross the line.”
Other critics were more blunt. Lola [@is7661] described it as a “Dump question to ask,” while YaYa Abba [@Maxajee] asked: “How can you get the opportunity to interview the wealthiest man in Africa, and all your rusty brain could come up with is asking whether he still hopes to have a male child at his age?”
Icon [@Icon_Ayodeji] wrote: “Does she wants to offer herself? Or what kind of idiotic question is that,” and Olumide’O [@OlumideOS] said: “Very distasteful. She went low with this question and that’s something that will follow her for her entire career.”
The criticism continued with Stanley Ezeonah [@e…]: “Smart answer. Some journalists don’t have any brain especially Arise TV, why asking him about a male child,” ‘tEMiTAYo [@seanelhadji]: “Very very stupid question! When you make models journalists and TV presenters because they have screen appeal, this is what you get,” @Gentlebreeze [@Gentlebreez…]: “No emotional awareness, this is a horrifying question, Shame on this woman,” Omonla001 [@Irominee]: “What an imbecilic question??” and Test [@TestTest1175119]: “What kind of question is this?”
Others added cultural and professional angles. Cyrus Ademola [@CyrusAdemola] said: “The question is so culturally loaded. Bloomberg, FT, BBC will never ask him this,” BlanQface [@BlanQface] accused Arise journalists of trying to go viral, AIS_Sparkle [@UmmiAisha10] argued that in Hausa and Muslim tradition daughters keep their father’s name, while Hope for Grace [@Lordfisher2], Sigma King [@Apollop207], Meene_With_An_I [@ILIVEINPR…], An ImPerfect Gentleman [@…], and BALOGUN JOSEPH [@balogin] all described the question as stupid, distasteful and irritating.
However, a minority defended Okpe, arguing the question exposed societal bias. Onah Kosisochukwu [@Onahkosi] praised it as a “Brilliant question,” saying: “She created a solid socio-cultural & religious premise… and was able to get a substantial answer on the question of gender, heirship and succession from arguably Africa’s most powerful industrialist.”
Elijah Okunloye [@elias_frm_Benin] also supported her: “This is a brilliant question, this question is beyond Alhaji Dangote….this question addresses society biases, norms and traditions that put the girl child as subservants,” while Dan-to-Inspire [@lockerbian] described Dangote’s reply as “Very philosophical and contented,” and Alien [@Ezeemmanuel35] joked: “Questions like this are the ones the TV station use to promote their shows.”
Despite the divided reactions, Dangote’s graceful defence of his three daughters has been widely commended as a defining moment for female succession in Africa.
