First Published on this Blog on May 14, 2012.
President George Bush ruled America for eight years, in spite of the much-satirized communication deficiencies. President Bush had the ultra-partisan Vice President (Dick Cheney), a man full of bile and venom and a team of White House operatives who do not have problem slamming members of the opposition and the news media below the belt. And of course, the unconditional support of FOX News Network - the mouthpiece of the conservatives and by extension, the Republican Party. They succeeded in convincing the American people and Congress that Millionaires deserve a tax break even when America was fighting two wars. And they made Senator John Kerry - a man who fought for his country and was awarded Purple Heart - to defend his patriotism when he ran unsuccessfully against President Bush in the 2004 Presidential election.
President George Bush ruled America for eight years, in spite of the much-satirized communication deficiencies. President Bush had the ultra-partisan Vice President (Dick Cheney), a man full of bile and venom and a team of White House operatives who do not have problem slamming members of the opposition and the news media below the belt. And of course, the unconditional support of FOX News Network - the mouthpiece of the conservatives and by extension, the Republican Party. They succeeded in convincing the American people and Congress that Millionaires deserve a tax break even when America was fighting two wars. And they made Senator John Kerry - a man who fought for his country and was awarded Purple Heart - to defend his patriotism when he ran unsuccessfully against President Bush in the 2004 Presidential election.
President Clinton had Paul Begala, George Stephanopoulos, Rahm Emanuel, John Podesta, Erskine Bowles, Dee Dee Myers, James Carville, just to name a few. These guys were not Ministers, PhDs, or Professors while serving under President Clinton. They were highly dedicated Technocrats and policy wonks who - as die-hard supporters of the President - spit fire and brimstone at political opponents systematically and with devastating precision. They had a firm grasp of how President Clinton’s mind works, his vision for American people, and where he is going. They know the issues, they have the facts, and they were on top of the game. In the height of President Clinton's impeachment trial, Mr. James Carville came out on TV to declare war on Kenneth Star - the Independent Counsel who shamelessly turned White Water investigation into a sex scandal.
Granted, President Jonathan cannot be President Clinton, but his administration certainly needs a mature voice and not press releases - a policy wonk who has a firm grasp of what PDP wants to accomplish and where President Jonathan is taking the country. I want to read Vice President Sambo's view and his position on specific issues. I want to read from his Political and Economic Advisers. I want to see the face of the President's Energy czar on TV, explaining before the nation how the scam that depleted the subsidy funds was so easy to consummate. We want to know how the President and his administration want to fix the problems. Nigerians are tired of Press Releases by the Media Adviser to the President. They want to see action because it speaks louder than words.
The Chief Press Secretary or Media Adviser to the President is what it says it is – he is not a politician or a policy person. He is the voice and spokesperson of the President on developing issues. He is not the economic adviser, and certainly not the energy adviser or energy czar of the administration.
The Director of Communication is the politician, the policy guru – who knows the nitty-gritty of governance and the position of the party on specific issues. He or she manages the flow of information, the talking points within and outside of Aso Rock. Mr. Abati is doing a good job as a media adviser. He is a news analyst – a writer; he is not your Odia Ofeinmu, Duro Onabule, Chinweizu, Stanley Macebuh, Paul Begala, or James Carville. He is certainly not your Chuba Okadigbo or Uba Ahmed. You don’t have to like these two guys, but they served President Shehu Shagari very well in dealing with members of the opposition. So, where are President Jonathan's men?
Loyalty to the Brand:
In 1992, not wanting to be left out of the Bill Clinton's phenomenon, I had to risk my School fees to buy a Satellite Cable Receiver at Alaba International Market and had it installed in my elder brother's house in Lagos, Nigeria. In that case, anytime I am home on weekends or during holidays, I always have President Clinton on top of my hand, relishing his smooth talk and policy initiatives. All I wanted was to be part of his new world in my Nigerian world. Call it fanaticism, if you want, but I call it loyalty and education by other means.
In a similar vein, in 1993 when President Bill Clinton had to send his Vice President, Al Gore to CNN Larry King Live to debate the garrulous Ross Perot, I stayed awake until 3 a. m. Nigeria's time to be able to watch the debate live in our living room in Lagos, Nigeria, along with the American East Coast audience at 9 p.m. Eastern time, USA. I was a student then, living in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Yet, I took the risk to travel to Ijeshatedo (my brother's residence), knowing full well that the debate is 3 a.m Nigeria time and that I must be at the lecture hall unfailingly at exactly 7 a.m in Victoria Island, Lagos the same morning.
As an unrepentant admirer and supporter of President Bill Clinton, I didn't want to miss any bit of the debate. So I went home to watch the debate live and to root for Al Gore. I was apprehensive. I honestly thought that President Clinton was committing political suicide for allowing Al Gore to debate Mr. Perot, given what Mr. Perot did to President George Bush Sr in the 1992 Presidential 3-way debates. As calculated by President Clinton and his new administration, the debate was the best thing that happened to them in their first year in office. Al Gore decimated Ross Perot beyond redemption. As I predicted, Mr. Perot disappeared, not only from American politics but from the news media as well. Not surprising, President Clinton and his administration had a fulfilled first term in office.
As an unrepentant admirer and supporter of President Bill Clinton, I didn't want to miss any bit of the debate. So I went home to watch the debate live and to root for Al Gore. I was apprehensive. I honestly thought that President Clinton was committing political suicide for allowing Al Gore to debate Mr. Perot, given what Mr. Perot did to President George Bush Sr in the 1992 Presidential 3-way debates. As calculated by President Clinton and his new administration, the debate was the best thing that happened to them in their first year in office. Al Gore decimated Ross Perot beyond redemption. As I predicted, Mr. Perot disappeared, not only from American politics but from the news media as well. Not surprising, President Clinton and his administration had a fulfilled first term in office.
I am not asking for President Jonathan's men to descend on their political opponents and decimate them, but to strive to raise public awareness regarding what the administration is doing and where it is going on specific issues that matter to Nigerians the most. Enough of Press Releases. It manifests naivete in public policy deliberations.
Follower-ship is about trust. People must believe in you. Without that, no amount of paid ads or press releases will buy public sympathy and acceptance. Even in faraway Nigeria and in the very first year of President Bill Clinton in the US, I could feel his passion for real leadership and his genuine commitment to do good for his people, judging by what I was reading about him every morning in the Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria and from my Satellite Cable Receiver.
In a similar vein, growing up, I had to buy every book, magazine, article, journal, etc., written by Chief Obafemi Awolowo as well as those written by other people about him in order to have independent knowledge of [the sage] besides his accomplishments and public service credentials as told by my Mother - a huge fan and supporter of Pa Awo. I became an admirer of Awo in no time - not letting any opportunity slip by without standing for him, defending him, or setting the record straight, or injecting stories of his accomplishments into discussions, with a convincing pride. It is not fanaticism; it is trust in the man and trust in his leadership.
In a similar vein, growing up, I had to buy every book, magazine, article, journal, etc., written by Chief Obafemi Awolowo as well as those written by other people about him in order to have independent knowledge of [the sage] besides his accomplishments and public service credentials as told by my Mother - a huge fan and supporter of Pa Awo. I became an admirer of Awo in no time - not letting any opportunity slip by without standing for him, defending him, or setting the record straight, or injecting stories of his accomplishments into discussions, with a convincing pride. It is not fanaticism; it is trust in the man and trust in his leadership.
Governance is a fiduciary responsibility – it connotes a duty of care - an utmost good faith on the part of the elected representatives and their paid special advisers. The President should look inward and ask his men the simple question: are we living up to our promise, and are we serving the Presidency and the people as expected of a prudent fiduciary? Of what political merit in retaining a Special Adviser, if his or her counsel is of little or no relevance in your decision-making process?
This administration has a communication problem, and that to a significant degree is responsible for the unguided utterances often credited to the President. Adding to that, President Jonathan does not command the sort of media respect and support that President Obama has. Therefore, it is left to him and his administration to find their voice and find it fast in the crazy cacophony occasioned by Rep Lawan's report on the petroleum subsidy scam.
Analysis:
Analysis:
Granted it is not humanly possible to guide against gaffe at impromptu press briefings, but only the President, by himself, and himself only, can develop the craftsmanship of President Bill Clinton and the eloquence and audacity of President Barack Obama. It requires constant reading. And it is about knowledge. The New York Times is a must-read for every American President first thing in the morning.
President Jonathan can elevate his game and relevance by skimming at least three Nigerian national newspapers every morning before proceeding to work. Adding to that, a copy of The Economist magazine must always be by his bedside. Not just to keep abreast of the latest development in the business world at home and abroad, but for an overall philosophical and intellectual enrichment. The President can also arrange for mock debates at least once every two months with his closest confidants on both domestic and international issues as if he is preparing to debate President Barack Obama or planting a tete-a-tete with his number one nemesis - Mr. Sonala Olumhense. I am not being sarcastic here; the President should endeavor to embrace the concept of content management and transcribe it into politics and governance; enmesh himself in philosophical reawakening, focusing on the nitty-gritty of political economy and public affairs.
When the President's men are missing, only the President can [step] up his game. There is no short cut to vision. Right now, something isn't right in Nigeria. And the people are yearning for a change, looking for a great leader to lead and restore hope in a dispirited populace.
It’s all about knowing little about most things; how to communicate it, improve on what you know, and express yourself in simple, yet mature syntax. It's all about awareness of your surrounding, what great leaders do, and what they read. Ask President Bill Clinton [or study his part to greatness]. President Jonathan has the resources to transform himself and he has the men and women [of Nigeria] to help him execute the mission of his administration, and do for Nigeria what President Bill Clinton did for American people or what Pa Awo did for [the old] Western Region of Nigeria. It's all about the reading because it makes the man. [You can't say it, if you don't know it. The mission statement is idea-based. Indeed, the idea is paramount - it comes first, from curiosity - a willingness to read and learn. You cannot govern from nothing. Communication is complementary].
May 14, 2012
When the President's men are missing, only the President can [step] up his game. There is no short cut to vision. Right now, something isn't right in Nigeria. And the people are yearning for a change, looking for a great leader to lead and restore hope in a dispirited populace.
It’s all about knowing little about most things; how to communicate it, improve on what you know, and express yourself in simple, yet mature syntax. It's all about awareness of your surrounding, what great leaders do, and what they read. Ask President Bill Clinton [or study his part to greatness]. President Jonathan has the resources to transform himself and he has the men and women [of Nigeria] to help him execute the mission of his administration, and do for Nigeria what President Bill Clinton did for American people or what Pa Awo did for [the old] Western Region of Nigeria. It's all about the reading because it makes the man. [You can't say it, if you don't know it. The mission statement is idea-based. Indeed, the idea is paramount - it comes first, from curiosity - a willingness to read and learn. You cannot govern from nothing. Communication is complementary].
May 14, 2012
