By Ayoola Adeyanju
It is evidential that the present political class is becoming less and less trusted to properly handle the country’s affairs on all fronts. Fuel scarcity continues to threaten the economy (with many opining that the latest one is a diversionary tactic to cover the alleged fraud at the national oil control tower – NNPC.
Power generation and potable water are now individual house-to-house responsibilities. And until recently, nothing has been put in place to halt the progress of the long-standing, multi-coach train which has been bringing various loads of insecurity right to the doorstep of the country. In many areas, resident associations are pulling manpower and financial resources together to protect their lives and property – taking turns to man ‘sustainable’ security against armed bandits on the other hand. Residential area road networks are becoming more of such community efforts. There is a great sense of individualism everywhere.
Fraud allegations and counter allegations are a commonplace – with a perceived sense of likelihood of victory for the most vocal, or most continentally powerful. So while Ex-Central Bank Chief, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi seems to be appearing all over Western media (that not surprising considering present stand of the West on Nigeria) to possible clear his name and advance his allegation of corruption against the Federal Government of Nigeria, the FGN on the other hand has been using all available internal resources to prove Mr Lamido is guilty. And that the state is right.
More importantly, the Federal Government is trying to assert that the state is doing everything within its powers to keep the citizens even happier as the country became the 123rd happiest country in the world in 2014, two spots up on 2013 (The Legatum Prosperity Index Rankings 2013). I cannot stop thinking therefore that part of the proof system being proposed is to create positive buzz and set a good example of the Nigerian government as a responsible one and as such deserving accolades for not only caring about its jobless youths but also going to great lengths to alleviate their sufferings at the slightest opportunity.
That good Public Relations is often better than direct advertising is an unending debate. Research has shown PR covers multitude of errors. But it is clear that a car with shoddy bodywork cannot place its correction in the hope of being covered by fantastic painting. The better the painting, the more obvious the sloppy bodywork becomes.
The foundation of falsehood upon which the FG had hoped to build an enduring PR structure fell apart like a pack of cards with the last Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment stunt. And if any PR professionals were consulted at all, they ought to be heavily sanctioned by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) as those professionals – through that recruitment exercise – brought their governing body to total disrepute. On the other hand, if it emerges that ‘charlatans’ were involved, then the NIS has to provide a good answer to why an exercise of that magnitude (judging by the total number of form sold) should be handled unprofessionally. In case non-professionals were used (the NIS providing that answer notwithstanding), this trend has once again exposed the danger being faced by the industry. The leadership is either completely inept or it is lacking the legislative backing required to exercise control hence the ugly incidence of last Saturday.
In conclusion, the fallout of last week’s event is a national disgrace of intercontinental proportion. And the NIPR needs to act up and do the needful by cleansing the industry otherwise, another disaster looms in the corner.
Ayoola Adeyanju contributed this piece from Manchester, UK. Leave your comment in the box below. {fcomments}