Political propaganda and public confidence in Nigeria

By Niran Adedokun

Hey friends, I trust that you had a good weekend and that you are rejuvenated for a really productive week like I am. Just keep at that thing which you know how to do best and trust the Almighty One to smile on you one day soon.
What I am sharing with you this week is a topic, which will, hopefully, generate some interaction.  I can assure you that we at The Communicat really want to have your take on this one and we trust that you will not
“fall our hand” on the matter.                               
There has been so much random talk within the
political circle lately that ordinary Nigerians should begin to demand some level of decorous conduct from our politicians, at least in the interest of the wellbeing of the common man.
I stumbled on some news item on the Channels News at 10, last night (Sunday, September 22nd) which made me wonder whether our leaders sometimes think about the import of some of the things they say. 
At an event in Port Harcourt, the River States capital, I think it was at the closing of Port Harcourt International Fashion Festival, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, among other things accused the Commissioner of Police in his state, CP Joseph Mbu of “mingling” with criminals attributing the increase in the wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state to Mbu’s relationship with criminals.  I found this news item which Channels TV called “Amaechi accuses CP of mingling with criminals,” distasteful and not entirely complimentary of the office of the governor.
 Now I understand the fact that the governor and the CP have not been on the best of terms and the likelihood that the governor might want to adopt the English idiom which says that “all is fair in love and war” to gain the upper hand in this misunderstanding, but I also know that there is the need to employ a level of tact in the use of whatever tactics we want to use to score political points especially because every tool of communication has its positive and negative effects on he that speaks and he that listens.Hey friends, I trust that you had a good weekend and that you are rejuvenated for a really productive week like I am. Just keep at that thing which you know how to do best and trust the Almighty One to smile on you one day soon.
 What I am sharing with you this week is a topic, which will, hopefully, generate some interaction.  I can assure you that we at The Communicat really want to have your take on this one and we trust that you will not “fall our hand” on the matter.
There has been so much random talk within the political circle lately that ordinary Nigerians should begin to demand some level of decorous conduct from our politicians, at least in the interest of the wellbeing of the common man.
I stumbled on some news item on the Channels News at 10, last night (Sunday, September 22nd) which made me wonder whether our leaders sometimes think about the import of some of the things they say. 
At an event in Port Harcourt, the River States capital, I think it was at the closing of Port Harcourt International Fashion Festival, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, among other things accused the Commissioner of Police in his state, CP Joseph Mbu of “mingling” with criminals attributing the increase in the wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state to Mbu’s relationship with criminals.  I found this news item which Channels TV called “Amaechi accuses CP of mingling with criminals,” distasteful and not entirely complimentary of the office of the governor.
 Now I understand the fact that the governor and the CP have not been on the best of terms and the likelihood that the governor might want to adopt the English idiom which says that “all is fair in love and war” to gain the upper hand in this misunderstanding, but I also know that there is the need to employ a level of tact in the use of whatever tactics we want to use to score political points especially because every tool of communication has its positive and negative effects on he that speaks and he that listens.Hey friends, I trust that you had a good weekend and that you are rejuvenated for a really productive week like I am. Just keep at that thing which you know how to do best and trust the Almighty One to smile on you one day soon.
 What I am sharing with you this week is a topic, which will, hopefully, generate some interaction.  I can assure you that we at The Communicat really want to have your take on this one and we trust that you will not “fall our hand” on the matter.
There has been so much random talk within the political circle lately that ordinary Nigerians should begin to demand some level of decorous conduct from our politicians, at least in the interest of the wellbeing of the common man.
I stumbled on some news item on the Channels News at 10, last night (Sunday, September 22nd) which made me wonder whether our leaders sometimes think about the import of some of the things they say. 
At an event in Port Harcourt, the River States capital, I think it was at the closing of Port Harcourt International Fashion Festival, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, among other things accused the Commissioner of Police in his state, CP Joseph Mbu of “mingling” with criminals attributing the increase in the wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state to Mbu’s relationship with criminals.  I found this news item which Channels TV called “Amaechi accuses CP of mingling with criminals,” distasteful and not entirely complimentary of the office of the governor.
 Now I understand the fact that the governor and the CP have not been on the best of terms and the likelihood that the governor might want to adopt the English idiom which says that “all is fair in love and war” to gain the upper hand in this misunderstanding, but I also know that there is the need to employ a level of tact in the use of whatever tactics we want to use to score political points especially because every tool of communication has its positive and negative effects on he that speaks and he that listens.
Here, I am not talking about whether Mr.  Amaechi was correct in his position or not, although I am persuaded to reason that this cannot be a totally correct assertion as the truth of it would indicate that Nigeria is in deeper troubles than we really realise.
What I am concerned about is the effect that the weapon of propaganda which Amaechi has recently adopted in his political fights would have on his cause and the psyche of the people that he leads.  I do not know what he intends to achieve with what seems to me like a determination to push their case on and on but I’m afraid that those who are listening to Amaechi’s diatribe may soon suffer from some overstuffing which could lead to fatigue and eventually discredit the speaker.
All fair in war right? So propaganda, which has its origin in the propagation of the Christian faith by the Catholic Church, is fair and effective in war? Historians have volumes on how effective propaganda was in the execution of the war which Hitler started on the world and so many other figures who have employed this weapon at one time or the other.
Nigerian history has also seen the effective use of propaganda. I read of the manipulation of information during the civil war. I witnessed some use of propaganda in the course of years of military rule and now politicians, especially those who see themselves as underdogs are now on a propaganda spree.
 In the course of the past one week, I have read more stories deliberately spun from the desks of propagandists than I have read since the return of democracy to Nigeria. I have read about the withdrawal of diplomatic passports that never was. I have read about an attempt by the federal government to bribe members of the National Assembly. I have also read how the alleged attempt to stop the President from bribing legislators by a loyal aide has led to the sack of that aide and so many twists and turns to an otherwise simple story.  Just before we went to bed on Sunday too, we learnt that the President Goodluck Jonathan is at the head of a colony of 600 Nigerians who are present at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Every piece of information above would invariably portray the federal government as repressive, irresponsible and intolerant of opposing views.  I am not convinced that that is the reality on our hands. If it is not, then there appears to be nothing else that people in the opposing camp are doing other than employing propaganda to draw sympathy to themselves as well as discredit the government.
So what is propaganda and how does it differ from public relations with which it is often confused?  Richard Alan Nelson, an American Communications educator describes propaganda " as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels” While public relations tends towards a more engaging milder advocacy that admits discussion, propaganda tends towards being overbearing, dogmatic, assertive and disinterested in debate
I watched Governor Amaechi as he spoke to his listeners like a school headmaster admonishing his pupils and I wondered for how long this would continue.
While it is not entirely wrong to employ propaganda in the battle that our politicians are fighting, it is advisable that they do nothing to undermine the institutions in this country.  If Amaechi says such things about the police in his state and he gets his people to believe him, is he not derogating from the authority of the police to maintain law and order? Is it not possible that the man would soon have an entirely lawless state on his hands? How does he intend to cope with that? And per chance the allegation is not true, this attempt at propaganda would one day explode in the face of the governor such that his people may not believe anything that he says again. Leaders should never be found selling half-truths and outright conjectures to their people. It is a totally wrong way to communicate.
Here, I am not talking about whether Mr.  Amaechi was correct in his position or not, although I am persuaded to reason that this cannot be a totally correct assertion as the truth of it would indicate that Nigeria is in deeper troubles than we really realise.
What I am concerned about is the effect that the weapon of propaganda which Amaechi has recently adopted in his political fights would have on his cause and the psyche of the people that he leads.  I do not know what he intends to achieve with what seems to me like a determination to push their case on and on but I’m afraid that those who are listening to Amaechi’s diatribe may soon suffer from some overstuffing which could lead to fatigue and eventually discredit the speaker.
All fair in war right? So propaganda, which has its origin in the propagation of the Christian faith by the Catholic Church, is fair and effective in war? Historians have volumes on how effective propaganda was in the execution of the war which Hitler started on the world and so many other figures who have employed this weapon at one time or the other.
Nigerian history has also seen the effective use of propaganda. I read of the manipulation of information during the civil war. I witnessed some use of propaganda in the course of years of military rule and now politicians, especially those who see themselves as underdogs are now on a propaganda spree.
 In the course of the past one week, I have read more stories deliberately spun from the desks of propagandists than I have read since the return of democracy to Nigeria. I have read about the withdrawal of diplomatic passports that never was. I have read about an attempt by the federal government to bribe members of the National Assembly. I have also read how the alleged attempt to stop the President from bribing legislators by a loyal aide has led to the sack of that aide and so many twists and turns to an otherwise simple story.  Just before we went to bed on Sunday too, we learnt that the President Goodluck Jonathan is at the head of a colony of 600 Nigerians who are present at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Every piece of information above would invariably portray the federal government as repressive, irresponsible and intolerant of opposing views.  I am not convinced that that is the reality on our hands. If it is not, then there appears to be nothing else that people in the opposing camp are doing other than employing propaganda to draw sympathy to themselves as well as discredit the government.
So what is propaganda and how does it differ from public relations with which it is often confused?  Richard Alan Nelson, an American Communications educator describes propaganda " as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels” While public relations tends towards a more engaging milder advocacy that admits discussion, propaganda tends towards being overbearing, dogmatic, assertive and disinterested in debate
I watched Governor Amaechi as he spoke to his listeners like a school headmaster admonishing his pupils and I wondered for how long this would continue.
While it is not entirely wrong to employ propaganda in the battle that our politicians are fighting, it is advisable that they do nothing to undermine the institutions in this country.  If Amaechi says such things about the police in his state and he gets his people to believe him, is he not derogating from the authority of the police to maintain law and order? Is it not possible that the man would soon have an entirely lawless state on his hands? How does he intend to cope with that? And per chance the allegation is not true, this attempt at propaganda would one day explode in the face of the governor such that his people may not believe anything that he says again. Leaders should never be found selling half-truths and outright conjectures to their people. It is a totally wrong way to communicate.

Here, I am not talking about whether Mr.  Amaechi was correct in his position or not, although I am persuaded to reason that this cannot be a totally correct assertion as the truth of it would indicate that Nigeria is in deeper troubles than we really realise.
What I am concerned about is the effect that the weapon of propaganda which Amaechi has recently adopted in his political fights would have on his cause and the psyche of the people that he leads.  I do not know what he intends to achieve with what seems to me like a determination to push their case on and on but I’m afraid that those who are listening to Amaechi’s diatribe may soon suffer from some overstuffing which could lead to fatigue and eventually discredit the speaker.
All fair in war right? So propaganda, which has its origin in the propagation of the Christian faith by the Catholic Church, is fair and effective in war? Historians have volumes on how effective propaganda was in the execution of the war which Hitler started on the world and so many other figures who have employed this weapon at one time or the other. Hey friends, I trust that you had a good weekend and that you are rejuvenated for a really productive week like I am. Just keep at that thing which you know how to do best and trust the Almighty One to smile on you one day soon.
 What I am sharing with you this week is a topic, which will, hopefully, generate some interaction.  I can assure you that we at The Communicat really want to have your take on this one and we trust that you will not “fall our hand” on the matter.
There has been so much random talk within the political circle lately that ordinary Nigerians should begin to demand some level of decorous conduct from our politicians, at least in the interest of the wellbeing of the common man.
I stumbled on some news item on the Channels News at 10, last night (Sunday, September 22nd) which made me wonder whether our leaders sometimes think about the import of some of the things that they                                                         
At an event in Port Harcourt, the River States capital, I think it was at the closing of Port Harcourt International Fashion Festival, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, among other things accused the Commissioner of Police in his state, CP Joseph Mbu of “mingling” with criminals attributing the increase in the wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state to Mbu’s relationship with criminals.  I found this news item which Channels TV called “Amaechi accuses CP of mingling with criminals,” distasteful and not entirely complimentary of the office of the governor.
 Now I understand the fact that the governor and the CP have not been on the best of terms and the likelihood that the governor might want to adopt the English idiom which says that “all is fair in love and war” to gain the upper hand in this misunderstanding, but I also know that there is the need to employ a level of tact in the use of whatever tactics we want to use to score political points especially because every tool of communication has its positive and negative effects on he that speaks and he that listens.
Here, I am not talking about whether Mr.  Amaechi was correct in his position or not, although I am persuaded to reason that this cannot be a totally correct assertion as the truth of it would indicate that Nigeria is in deeper troubles than we really realise.
What I am concerned about is the effect that the weapon of propaganda which Amaechi has recently adopted in his political fights would have on his cause and the psyche of the people that he leads.  I do not know what he intends to achieve with what seems to me like a determination to push their case on and on but I’m afraid that those who are listening to Amaechi’s diatribe may soon suffer from some overstuffing which could lead to fatigue and eventually discredit the speaker.
All fair in war right? So propaganda, which has its origin in the propagation of the Christian faith by the Catholic Church, is fair and effective in war? Historians have volumes on how effective propaganda was in the execution of the war which Hitler started on the world and so many other figures who have employed this weapon at one time or the other.
Nigerian history has also seen the effective use of propaganda. I read of the manipulation of information during the civil war. I witnessed some use of propaganda in the course of years of military rule and now politicians, especially those who see themselves as underdogs are now on a propaganda spree.
 In the course of the past one week, I have read more stories deliberately spun from the desks of propagandists than I have read since the return of democracy to Nigeria. I have read about the withdrawal of diplomatic passports that never was. I have read about an attempt by the federal government to bribe members of the National Assembly. I have also read how the alleged attempt to stop the President from bribing legislators by a loyal aide has led to the sack of that aide and so many twists and turns to an otherwise simple story.  Just before we went to bed on Sunday too, we learnt that the President Goodluck Jonathan is at the head of a colony of 600 Nigerians who are present at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.                                                             
Every piece of information above would invariably portray the federal government as repressive, irresponsible and intolerant of opposing views.  I am not convinced that that is the reality on our hands. If it is not, then there appears to be nothing else that people in the opposing camp are doing other than employing propaganda to draw sympathy to themselves as well as discredit the government.
So what is propaganda and how does it differ from public relations with which it is often confused?  Richard Alan Nelson, an American Communications educator describes propaganda " as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels” While public relations tends towards a more engaging milder advocacy that admits discussion, propaganda tends towards being overbearing, dogmatic, assertive and disinterested in debate
I watched Governor Amaechi as he spoke to his listeners like a school headmaster admonishing his pupils and I wondered for how long this would continue.
While it is not entirely wrong to employ propaganda in the battle that our politicians are fighting, it is advisable that they do nothing to undermine the institutions in this country.  If Amaechi says such things about the police in his state and he gets his people to believe him, is he not derogating from the authority of the police to maintain law and order? Is it not possible that the man would soon have an entirely lawless state on his hands? How does he intend to cope with that? And per chance the allegation is not true, this attempt at propaganda would one day explode in the face of the governor such that his people may not believe anything that he says again. Leaders should never be found selling half-truths and outright conjectures to their people. It is a totally wrong way to communicate.

Nigerian history has also seen the effective use of propaganda. I read of the manipulation of information during the civil war. I witnessed some use of propaganda in the course of years of military rule and now politicians, especially those who see themselves as underdogs are now on a propaganda spree.
 In the course of the past one week, I have read more stories deliberately spun from the desks of propagandists than I have read since the return of democracy to Nigeria. I have read about the withdrawal of diplomatic passports that never was. I have read about an attempt by the federal government to bribe members of the National Assembly. I have also read how the alleged attempt to stop the President from bribing legislators by a loyal aide has led to the sack of that aide and so many twists and turns to an otherwise simple story.  Just before we went to bed on Sunday too, we learnt that the President Goodluck Jonathan is at the head of a colony of 600 Nigerians who are present at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Every piece of information above would invariably portray the federal government as repressive, irresponsible and intolerant of opposing views.  I am not convinced that that is the reality on our hands. If it is not, then there appears to be nothing else that people in the opposing camp are doing other than employing propaganda to draw sympathy to themselves as well as discredit the government.
So what is propaganda and how does it differ from public relations with which it is often confused?  Richard Alan Nelson, an American Communications educator describes propaganda " as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels” While public relations tends towards a more engaging milder advocacy that admits discussion, propaganda tends towards being overbearing, dogmatic, assertive and disinterested in debate
I watched Governor Amaechi as he spoke to his listeners like a school headmaster admonishing his pupils and I wondered for how long this would continue.
While it is not entirely wrong to employ propaganda in the battle that our politicians are fighting, it is advisable that they do nothing to undermine the institutions in this country.  If Amaechi says such things about the police in his state and he gets his people to believe him, is he not derogating from the authority of the police to maintain law and order? Is it not possible that the man would soon have an entirely lawless state on his hands? How does he intend to cope with that? And per chance the allegation is not true, this attempt at propaganda would one day explode in the face of the governor such that his people may not believe anything that he says again. Leaders should never be found selling half-truths and outright conjectures to their people. It is a totally wrong way to communicate.