Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014—31
Agenda for the new NIPR leadership The first part of this discourse was published on Wednesday BY JOSSY NKWOCHA
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GOOD majority of Nigerian politi cians no longer hide the fact that it is only about one thing: Politics. Those that they lead, in their turn, no longer demand to be led, cared for, or even inspired. Having been deceived, disorientated, devalued and demotivated for so very long, they have lost hope of there ever being a leader in their own lifetimes who would ensure they get the lives to which they aspire. Standards have consequently dropped. It is enough these days for a political office holder merely to have ‘done something’, regardless of how much the citizenry is being deprived at his expense. It is not unusual, either, for the propaganda that follows an ‘achievement’ to be of greater intensity than the value of the achievement itself. In fact the excitement that greeted the ushering in of the brand new civilian dispensation in 1999 has been quenched by too much optimism and too much enthusiasm - which has not been backed by action. Not that it had not been justified. The fight had been long and brutal. Bodies had been dirtied; noses bloodied and egos completely battered and frittered out of existence. It only appeared natural that those who had been on the battle front and returned limping (not all had made it) would eat the fruits of their labour. Democracy became not only a religion, it became a mantra. Not many really knew the meaning of the term in any real sense. No one had taken the time to study the characteristics of the various democracies and how a democratic roadmap could be drawn for Nigeria that would take into consideration her
graft could be curbed if political office holders were compensated in such a way as to satisfy their every need and want. This, and other theories of the age have failed to bear fruit. Graft has not only continued it has multiplied in geometric proportions. So has politics. There had been a time when the playing of politics had been skilfully done, and it had been important to at least try to conceal the fact that politics was being played. Nowadays, it is done blatantly, proudly and with every arrogance. The trouble with putting politics before statecraft is multifaceted, particularly when regulations are fickle, challenges few and unprecedented amounts of funds are available to political office holders to ply their trade.
Biggest threat
Our politics is turning out to be the biggest threat to our democracy. When it is happening at the highest levels, the threat becomes even more real and present. This danger was most glaring during the Yar'Adua administration, when the unfortunately sick president was so dehumanized by political innuendo that his body was purportedly flown into the country in the dead of the night in order that he would continue to be president even after he was dead. Clearly, this odd state of affairs was not in the interest of Nigeria’s stability, as it had been claimed, but telling of a succession crisis brewing under the surface. It was a point in Nigeria’s history that was one There had been a time when the playof the darkest, breeding ing of politics had been skilfully done, uncertainty of the worst type and bringing to the and it had been important to at least try fore the desperation of the to conceal the fact that politics was bepolitical class not to loosen its tenacious grip on ing played. Nowadays, it is done blapower. As the situation in tantly, proudly and with every arrogance Rivers now deteriorates and a man shot albeit by very many idiosyncrasies, chief of which is a rubber bullet, the police in the state apher diversity in ethnicity, culture and religion. pears more interested in playing politics than The uniforms were torched in a bonfire and restoring the confidence of the people in reduced to the ashes of virtual nonexistence. its ability to ensure the safety of lives and The caftans came on, and while the Nigerian property. version of a truth and reconciliation commisIn all of these, the human factor is bound sion did not exactly lead to forgiveness Madito be worst hit. Stories have been told of how ba-style, it reinforced what had been the hint erstwhile first lady Turai Yaradua had exthat those who made the most noise about the ploited every and any opportunity to make last sixteen years of military rule would take money in spite of- and sometimes because over the mantle of leadership on various levof- her husband’s ill health. We fail however els. It was only natural, also, that a lot of seto realize as a nation that there is a little bit lections would prevail over elections in inter of Turai in all of us and that little bit is under party as well as intraparty polls cutting across threat of explosion into a monster, the the various political parties across the counmore we accept the reign of money and try. power politics. It was no longer enough for an otherwise accomplished man or woman with a vision or Soyinka on Mandela a plan to merely step forward and offer to be Of all the commentary that followed the voted for and thereby render service to his announcement of the death of the South Afmotherland on different levels. The candidate rican Nobel Peace Laureate - whether local had to fit the bill of political correctness. or international- by far the most capturing of The era of pure politics had been born. With the profundity of Nelson Mandela’s life came it had come mind boggling remuneration, emfrom Soyinka: “The soul of Africa has deboldened by eternally faulty argument that parted, and there is nothing miraculous left in the world”.
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GAIN, Council needs to bring back our regular Professional Journal, where professional papers written by members can be published and circulated. Members must be given value for their membership of the Institute. Fifthly, I strongly advocate a change in the timing of our national conference and AGM to ensure greater participation of our members. In the past three years, the event has held in midDecember, which is the busiest time for most public relations practitioners in corporate organizations. It has prevented many members from contributing to discussions on important issues concerning NIPR, and disenfranchised such members from voting for the best leadership of the Institute. According to Schedule 1 (4) 1 of the NIPR Act: “The Council shall convene the annual meeting of the Institute on 30th April in every year or on such other day as the Council may,
Map of Nigeria
jobs? How do we get our profession to be respected among the comity of other professions? For now, we spend too much time playing the politics of NIPR: Who becomes President? Who becomes Council member? We should allow the best candidates with the requisite qualifications, aptitude and experience (QAE) to lead our Institute. And the best can come from any state of our country, As a professional body, we Nigeria. Lastly, the need to emphasize profesCouncil sionalism and excellence, and should work as a ask ourselves: how do we team; grow our institute? imbibe team spirit to achieve from time to time appoint, result. There should be so however, that if the unity of purpose. Issues meeting is not held within should be resolved mainly one year after the previous by consensus. I strongly annual general meeting, believe that the Dr. not more than fifteen RotimiOladele team will months shall elapse bemake tremendous tween the respective dates progress if they can put of the two meetings.” these humble suggestions Some people had thought that this provision of the Act into action. I humbly submit… compels the Institute to · Sir Jossy Nkwocha, hold AGM in December. Fellow of NIPR, was The new Council should General Editor of Newsplease restore our next AGM to between January to watch Magazine; and April 2015. There should be currently Head of Corpo“Call for Papers,” especially rate Communications & Special Adviser to the PR case studies, to make Managing Director of the conference stimulating Indorama Eleme Petroand rewarding for particichemicals Limited (IEPL), pants. Port Harcourt. He can be Sixthly, I humbly suggest reached on that we de-emphasize sirjossynkwocha@yahoo.com. politics in the affairs of the
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The Age of Politics
Institute. Granted, politics and religion are the opium of any society. But when they are allowed to overshadow everything else, they destroy the system. As a professional body, we need to emphasize professionalism and excellence, and ask ourselves: how do we grow our institute? How do we chase away quacks? How do we improve the quality of our members to grab good
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