The PDP National Public Secretary:
Who does the cap fit?
By Olayinka Gabriel


I read an article credited to A political strategist, Mr. Jim Nwanko, where he urge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to make a mistake in its choice of a National Publicity Secretary, he lamented that past image makers did not carry the media along thus causing the party incalculable damages, according to him, the position would be pivotal in resurrecting the party and repositioning it.
Mr Jim also went ahead to state the criteria of the person that this important cap fit, must possess.
Looking carefully at those criterias I have no doubt that Chief Emmanuel Bello from Taraba state perfectly fit Jim Nwanko description of who he will want to ware the cap.
According to Jim, the party need professionalism especially somebody that is a practitioners himself. Chief Emmanuel Bello has spend the major part of his life in the news room and has been the Editor of some of the big names in Nigeria, the likes of THISDAY, DAILY TRUST AND LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS, and currently running his own online newspaper called the KWARARAFA REPORTERS. So Chief Emma is at home with the the entire media cycle within an outside Nigeria. This qualities make the cap fit him perfectly. As Jim warn PDP don't have the luxury to sacrifice merit on the altar of other political considerations.
Another important point raise by Jim Nwankwo is that since the position has been zoned to the North, it would only be wise to ensure it went to a PDP state. Emmanuel Bello is from Taraba and since the return of Democracy is 1999 Taraba is one state that has remain a PDP state, Gombe also has been a PDP state but if you look the last election while Gombe people voted for PDP doing the Governorship election they voted APC in the presidential election, Taraba was the only state in the whole of the entire 19 northern states to voted PDP both at the Governorship and the Presidential election, it is just and equitable for the Party to be fair to such a loyal state with the position of the National Publicity secretary.
Another point made by Jim was that the person must Enjoying some modicum of support from the home state. Emmanuel Bello is loved by all, a friend of the media, a friend of the youth and a respecter of the elders. So many support group had already roll out drum in support for him in the state even before he accepted to contest for the position, At least, he didn't need to worry about local opposition as even those that claim to be playing opposition in the state are already supporting his candidature.
Nwankwo also said the job should go to the candidate with the most media savvy and network, Chief Emmanuel Bello is someone that is well connected, with over 20 years experience in the Nigeria media cycle he has meat with the high and the low, he feature daily on AIT morning paper review and on channel and other major media outfits a friend of Segun Adeniyi the former spokesman of President Musa Yaradua, virtually no big name you will mention in the media cycle that has not interacted with Emma.
Nwankwo also noted that the person must be at home with the nuances of propaganda and news writing and swift in responding to issues. Anybody that know Emma knows that he is a creative witter and master of propaganda and he always response to issue while it is still hot. He is someone who can be creative as to do stories on his feet. Chief Emmanuel is up till date with technology and a very active player on the social media which make him relevant in today's new media.
Finally Jim spoke about Real world of government experience. Chief Emmanuel was the special adviser to Last Governor Suntai on Media and publicity and later became the Commissioner of information in the state at two different occasions. First was doing Governor Suntai second tenure, Emma was very effective in handling the media war that follows Suntai"s plane crash. His book on SUNTAI AND THE MEDIA WAR will give you the picture of a man that is at home with the media, he was a loyal and committed to his boss even until the death of Suntai. The second time was when Sani Danladi was the Acting Governor and presently Emmanuel Bello is the Special Adviser to Governor Darius Ishaku in Public Affairs
Who else did this cap fit.
Olayinka Gabriel is a public affair analyst and the Editor in Chief of Taraba News