From all indications, it has been determined by the media team of President Bola Tinubu that his best approach to engagement with Nigerians, is via statements rolled out by either Bayo Onanuga or Ajuri Ngelale. Bayo Onanuga has deployed his X handle to good effect in this regard; identifying the seen and unseen enemies of the president. Ngelale has been limited to issuing uninspiring statements on behalf of a president, who both he and Onanuga were appointed to help facilitate interactions with the Nigerian people.
Gone are the days of the presidential media chat under previous leaders, where the president faced a panel of journalists and could also take questions from random members of the public. That was when presidential media personnel knew the value of regular interactions between the president and his constituents. At present, what we have is a presidential media team constituted of people more interested in shielding the president from the people, than in selling his policies to them.
Over the years, either as a NADECO chieftain, or as governor, Bola Tinubu had been a media personality. Tinubu the man is known for his love for his culture; the Yoruba culture. The Yoruba culture albeit; the Owambe culture, is steeped in media. The Yoruba person is flamboyant, fun loving, liberal and gregarious. These attributes presuppose the average Yoruba to an affinity with the media. This point is further buttressed by the unarguable vibrancy and dominance of the South-West axis of the Nigerian media.
As a chieftain of the opposition, NADECO in the days of the June 12th struggle, Bola Tinubu used the media to good effect, to the extent, along with others, of establishing and utilizing the rebel radio station, Radio Kudirat, either to espouse the vision of NADECO, or to counteract the activities of the General Sani Abacha regime. It was so effectively done that the radio station became a favorite of those interested in the liberation of Nigeria from the clutches of the military.
As governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu also utilized the media to mobilize Lagosians to face the challenges confronting the state. During the face-off between the Lagos State government and the federal government, on the matter of local government allocations, Tinubu utilized the media so well, that even before his victory at the supreme court, Nigerians were already singing his praises as the champion of democratic procedures.
As an individual, Bola Tinubu is said to be a media proprietor, having stakes in radio, television, newspapers and magazines. These go to show that our president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not a stranger to the media. In fact, the myth of Bola Tinubu, is a creation of the media. It therefore follows that our president knows and understands the power of the media for good. The question now is; how come such a man as Bola Tinubu, who knows and understands the power of the media is suddenly media shy? President Tinubu does not share his vision with Nigerians, he no longer desires the buy-in of the people to his policies.
What the president and his team seem to ignore, is that genuine healing of our country has not really taken place, since a keenly contested, divisive and disputed 2023 presidential election. There are still pockets of dissent here and there, and this has tended to hold the nation back. What is most required now, is the mass mobilization of our people. What we need therefore, is the voice of the president bringing healing, and rallying our people, like a general at the war front, so we can come together and face the challenges confronting our nation. But rather than the loud barking and unifying voice of a general, what we have is the loud silence from the seat of power.
How can we be hungry, and cannot hear from our president? How can our president be silent, when we are dying in droves? Buildings are collapsing and killing citizens, Boko Haram is unleashing mayhem, bandits are on rampage, kidnappers are having a field day, prices of goods and services are rising sky high, and the common man can no longer feed his family, yet, our president remains mute. Is it until we are all dead and buried before he will speak? It is obvious that President Tinubu has been advised to adopt the Buhari approach of remaining mute even when the country is on fire, and that is condemnable.
In developed societies which we aim to be like, leaders find ways to engage with the people on a daily basis. It must not be a formal address at designated times and seasons, it could just be a passing comment. This goes a long way however, to giving the people confidence and assurances that the leader cares. Why should our case be different? Mr. President, forget about the comments of analysts, and criticism from the opposition, whether you speak or do not speak, analysts will find something to analyze, and the opposition would always criticize. If you remain focused, your results will vindicate you.
I recently undertook a study to discover how citizens in different countries assess their leaders, and I was shocked to discover that most of the leaders who were seen as the best, were those who constantly engaged with their people. It proves that regular engagement with the people is key to a positive perception of a leader and equally key to good leadership.
Bayo Onanuga now sees himself as the defender of the nation and the president. He sees enemies in every shadow and launches attacks against the opposition at will. Peter Obi has now become the reason Nigeria is not working, and the cause of all Nigeria’s problems. What manner of presidential media aide is Onanuga? I was taught to concentrate on what my principal is doing and to give it prominence, rather than to focus on the opposition. It is obvious however, that Onanuga prefers to do the opposite, and that is not good for his principal.
President Tinubu cannot mobilize Nigerians by proxy. Asking the president to hide behind one finger is counterproductive. With the current challenges facing Nigeria, all hands are required on deck, and the president must be the mobilizer-in-chief. There was joy that here is a media man, when the president won the election. People believed that the Presidential Media Chat would be revived, as the president sought the buy-in of Nigerians to his policies.
Alas, what we have is a president hiding from his people, while Onanuga and Ngelale are issuing statements, and chasing shadows. My dear President Tinubu, not all Nigerians are in opposition, talk to your people. Someone should tell Bayo Onanuga and Ajuri Ngelale to kindly free our president.
•Written by Ernest Osogbue
