The seeming dwindling trust and popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari in the first one year of his administration has exposed the unsavory manner his image has been managed by his media aides. There is no doubt that the hitherto much taunted personal integrity and “body language of President Buhari” seems to have started evaporating considering that at the moment, everything he says or does comes under the scrutiny of many Nigerians. This development therefore needs to be addressed urgently.

Recall that President Buahri was overwhelmingly voted into office in the March 28, 2015 Presidential elections, following his vigorous propagation of the message of change and his perceived personality as a man of impeccable character, astuteness and trust. He canvassed for the support and votes of Nigerians with a solemn undertaking that our wobbly socio-economic situation will be improved. Unfortunately, one year after, it has become increasingly tedious for President Bahari’s media aides to adequately defend and manage the image of the President sold to Nigerians on election.
In confirmation of this fact, the senior special assistant to President Buahri on media, Femi Adesina, while speaking at the monthly meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), in Abuja recently, reportedly admitted facing some challenges managing the Buhari brand due to the President’s reticence and thriftiness.

This is perhaps the reason why there have been so much conflicting reports and flip-flopping in the information being disseminated to the public about the President’s state of health and itineraries. For instance, on May 22, available reports from the Presidency stated that the President’s May 23 trip to Lagos had been cancelled due to his busy schedule. But it was later reported that the aborted trip was due to the President’s failing health which his media aide, Femi Adesina denied, saying that the President “is as fit as the fiddle”. 24 hours later, Mr Adesina issued another statement implying that the President was not that fit after all, ‘President Muhammadu Buhari will take 10 days off and travel to London on Monday June 6th to rest. ‘During the holiday, he will see an E.N.T. specialist for a persistent ear infection.” On the contrary, on his way to London, President Buhari reportedly confirmed to newsmen at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja that he was going to check out his ear.

Further media reports reveal that perhaps it was the President’s failing health that prevented his scheduled trip to flag off the implementation of the UNEP recommendations on the clean up Ogoni land programme. He also shelved his engagement at the 48 Ordinary Summit of Head of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that he was supposed to host in Abuja.

We are aware that President Buhari is having some challenges with the economy and security in the country. He has equally scored some good marks over the last one year of his administration especially with corruption and fight against terror. For so many Nigerians, his commitment and integrity are not in doubt. But it needs to be emphasized that the President is occupying a very important and sensitive office.

He is the President of all Nigerians. Like he declared during his inaugural speech on May 29, ‘he is for everybody and for nobody’. Therefore, Nigerians have the right to know the true health condition of their President rather than politicising such vital pieces of information that would keep the citizenry abreast of what is happening with their President. This would certainly impact negatively on the President’s image as well as create some tension in the polity beyond whatever benefits, if there is any, arising from overstretched propaganda.
We believe that the President’s image and popularity would be better managed if the true information and facts are left to thrive in line with international best practices. This is because Nigerians have become a lot more hardened and pedantic and would no longer want to be taken for granted. We therefore believe that President Buhari’s media aides should be more strategic and proactive in information management.

It is crucial for them to get out of the seeming larger than life portrait of the President they are painting, stem propaganda and confront reality as it is by ensuring that there is a much more correct and coherent information flow from the government to the people on matters of governance. This way the President’s trust and image can be a lot guaranteed and better promoted.


http://independentnig.com/2016/06/15/managing-the-buhari-brand/

This one na brand? hardship brand...

Some people just sit down and write nonsense

the only ones who need to manage their stupidity is PDP and their lies



Nigerians have more trust in Buhari as of this moment