Political speeches such as campaign speeches, national broadcasts are all forms of political communication which are integral part of politics and a subset of Public Relations. Thus, Public Relations and Politic are two inseparable lines. This is a fact that President Mohammadu Buhari and his team are not oblivious of. It suffices to say that Public Relations is a veritable tool for political success.
Presidential broadcasts on occasion such as independence anniversary are very significant.First, they are used to remind all the citizens of a country about the value, worth and strength of a nation. They are also used to unveil the progress of an administration, restates the promises of an administration, identify the areas of strength as well areas of challenges of a given administration. Independence anniversary speeches are often used to offer hope to people, by sating what the administration is doing, what height it has attained and what more it would do to meet the yearnings of the citizens. Simply put, presidential speeches are meant to be motivational, spell out government’s policies and give a nation a sense of direction.
For president Buhari, the occasion of our fifty five independence anniversary was very significant. First it was his first national broadcast since becoming an elected president. Also, considering the state of our nation; the economic and social impasse, there was need for Mr President to have lifted the spirit of Nigerians with words of encouragement and words of hope. Therefore, the national broadcast ought to have been a platform for Mr. President to unveil his medium and short, term plans of his administration, declare policy statements as well as state the priorities of his government. Presidential broadcasts in anniversary occasions are not meant to be preoccupied with gerrymandering and lamentation. President Buhari speech at such a time as ought to be that of national introspection; policy assessment and offering commitment for national rebirth. Presidential broadcast on national anniversary should have come with a message of hope, accompanied with tone of vigor to its the citizens. Presidential broadcasts are not campaign speeches, therefore it was totally uncalled- for the Mr President to have seized the opportunity as a platform to be engaged in lamentation, offering excuses and justifying the unjustifiable.
My assessment of Mr President’s national broadcast on our fifty five independence anniversary is average. President Buhari offered nothing new. His speech was the usual rehash of old old story with nothing new. The speech failed to capture fundamental issues such as a road a map for the power sector. More worrisome, even is the failure of the president to comment on the medium and short term goals of his administration.
The speech was a total disappointment to many Nigerians who are concerned about the failing economy. President Buhari said nothing about how to avoid the impending economic recession. Perhaps, the President feels that probes are all we need as a nation for economic sufficiency and industrial progress. Mr. President was very unfair to the Nigerian youths, especially the army of unemployed graduates; those who eagerly awaited for Mr President to say something about his plans of job creation and youth empowerment. A speech of this magnitude ought to have contained the administration’s effort in the fight against insurgency, rather than the restating the obvious –stating how Boko Haram are a bunch of cowards. Disappointedly, the president had no word of succor for the parents of the Chiboks girls. Could it be that President Buhari is no longer convinced that Chibok girls are missing? Or it is because he has given up on the rescue of the Chibok girls.? Frankly speaking,the national broadcast was nothing but an insult to the sensibility of Nigerians. It was most uncharitable for president Buhari to seize the occasion of our fifty five independence anniversary to justify why he could not nominate ministers for over four months. His defense portrays him as a feckless leader; a man ill equipped for the task of governance, and a president already overwhelmed by the challenges of governance.
We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. THEREFORE, EXPECT NO MAGIC AND SPEED FROM ME. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its Report on the reorganization of the Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalized the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance. (Emphasis mine)
From the foregoing, it is seems President Buhari is exhausted and already overwhelmed with national challenges. Mr President should have known that leadership comes with its measure of responsibility. It is un- called for President Buhari to be telling Nigerians that he received hand over notes late. After four months in charge, complaints of handover notes should not be the concerns of Nigerians. Alas! The President has just used four months to study hand over notes; this is a feat on his side because he has been able to select the first set of ministers-‘the waiting is over’. Therefore, we must not be anxious for anything. Nevertheless, we must tarry a little because the list sent to the senate is just the first list, subsequent lists will emerge when the hand over notes are properly studied. Perhaps, the first set of ministers would help the president in studying the remaining volumes of the hand over notes.
Alas! These are the days of administrative fecklessness. Our president must rise up to the task of governance, enough of the lamentations and needless blame games. Yes, financial probity is welcome for effective governance. However, the nation must not continue to suffer untold hardship because you are studying hand over notes.
Be that as it may, the change agenda of the current administration is what all Nigerians should imbibe. I therefore urged all Nigerians to yield to the call of Mr President in pursing the change agenda. To this end, “we must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change we must change ourselves by being law- abiding citizens.” God bless Nigeria.
Written by Ominabo Wealth Dickson.
