“If you ask for the books, I will give the books but don’t ask for anything extra than what is in the books because I will not give.”–Governor Umo Eno
By Shadrach Okon
The burden of democracy demands a leader to stand daily in public court to be judged by the citizens of the state. In doing this, the Press opens ‘the books’ daily and read to members of the public the services and deeds of their leaders.
The books in the context of this discourse is a metaphor for accountability. Every time the media community demands for the books, journalists are demanding accountability and transparency in the business of government.
In a democratic state, the constitution of the land which is supreme upholds this accountability and transparency.
A leader takes oath of office to uphold the constitution that brought him to power. The constitution of the land demands a leader to discharge his duty with the highest level of transparency and be ready to give proper account of his stewardship in the state anytime duty beacons.
The duty of journalists in a democracy is to keep a leader on track to deliver good governance to the people. Also, journalists consistently review the deeds of a leader to put him on track in order to achieved his goals.
In the course of doing this critical assignment, journalists constantly ask officials of government for the books. Inside the books, the deeds of government both good and bad are written there. The duty of journalists is to constantly demand the books from the leaders so that the masses can make informed judgement about their leaders. Journalists in performing their duties are not expected to be antagonistic to the leader and his government. Journalists should not always be misconstrued as attack dogs. Journalists can equally ask for the books to amplify to the world the good deeds of government.
However, when leaders deny journalists the books, antagonism often ensue.
President Barack Obama, the former US President while addressing Kenya youths during his epochal visit to Kenya in 2015, identified the pillars of success in a democratic state as “…strong democratic governance; development that provides opportunity for all people and not just some; a sense of national identity that rejects conflict for a future of peace and reconciliation.”
Journalists are the strength to those pillars of success in a democratic state.
Anytime journalists go to sleep, the society is in shambles because the radar of the media helps to give direction to the government of the day.
Recently, Governor Umo Eno while addressing the world during the annual NUJ thanksgiving service held at The Apostolic Church Ikot Ekpene Udoh, Nsit Ubium LGA deviated from the thrust of his address. The event which was to help journalists officialy kick start their duties in 2025, was graced by Governor Eno as a special guest of honour. The governor while speaking veered from the lines of decency in public speaking. Governor Umo Eno in such a symbolic media event began his speech by saying to the media community, “If you ask for the books, I will give the books but don’t ask for anything extra than what is in the books because I will not give.”
That was a clear message to the public that journalists who demand accountability and transparency from his administration should not expect any favour from his government after they hold him accountable to the people.
This was too expensive a statement to make in an event that was beamed live for the world to watch on social media. The governor through such statement indicted himself on his position on Press Freedom. Probably, Governor Eno made such statement out of emotion but leaders are not expected to be emotional in public speaking.This is why the governor should treat the call for him to have a good Public Relations Team with urgency.
“Public Relations is the deliberate planned and sustained effort of courting public goodwill.”
Every time the governor goes out for an event, he goes to court public goodwill. However, careless statements and utterances can mar this goodwill and bring the opposite in return.
Also, Governor Umo Eno in his bid to express his dismay over the state of infrastructure in the host church –Apostolic Church, noted with dismay that the ceiling project he promised to execute in the church was not carried out. The governor added that Apostolic Church project was one among several projects that were not executed in the state due to negligence of duty by one of his aides who should have ensured that such projects are excuted as promised by the governor. This again was an indictment to his administration.
It shows that the governor retains some politicians within the corridors of power to earn tax-payers money in the state without performing their duties.
The governor by ‘dressing’ such wound in the public exposed the weakness of his cabinet. The best way to address such sabotage within his cabinet is to seek better hands to replace such an aide. It should not be addressed in public gatherings.
The media team that beamed the event live knew this, that was why they deny the online audience the audio version of the live transmission while the governor made such narrative.
I noticed that the governor before he made such mistake took permission from the congregation to divert from his written address and speak from his heart. One rule of public relations that applies in public speaking is to speak within the boundaries of the written address. Any diversion like the governor did exposes the speaker to avoidable blunders and errors.Such mistake should have been averted with a good Public Relations Team.
Best leaders in western democracies still speak within the boundaries of their written address in public gatherings. This principle is a sure key to effective delivery in public speaking.
A strong and good Public Relations team plays the role of a good wife to the husband by serving as the first mirror that dresses the governor to meet the world.
A good Public Relations Team grooms the governor for public appearances and presentations. The team organises seminars and trainings for the governor and his EXCO on public speaking and presentations. The cost of having such a team is more cost effective than what they will pay to clean the mess when errors and blunders are committed. Damage control is the last option in Public Relations.
This is one aspect of grooming that politicians in Akwa Ibom State have consistently ignored.
On the eve of 2024 Local Government Elections in Akwa Ibom State, a certain Special Adviser to Governor Eno on politcal matters who is expected to have garnered good skills of courting public goodwill because of his years as ‘a career politician’ flopped in Ikono LGA. In a political campaign that Governor Eno sent him to represent the governor, he indicted the administration of Governor Eno by saying that state government will pay voters from state treasury to vote for PDP candidates during the local government elections in the state. Such unguarded speech was made in an event that was beamed live on social media. Few minutes after he made such statement, the video clip was circulated in public space. The administration of governor Eno was dragged around for alledged diversion of public funds to rig elections. That was a clear indictment of Governor Umo Eno.
In saner climes where democratic principles are upheld, such a government official would have been advised to voluntarily resign from public office few hours after stepping down from the podium. The error since it was publicly made would have be corrected in public space through the media to put the records straight. This again is one of the duties of a strong Public Relations team to the governor.
The governor’s speech in a democracy represents his personality and gives policy direction to the people on what the governor believes. I strongly believe that Governor Umo Eno believes in Press Freedom and upholds democractic principles. So, the governor needs a good Public Relations Team. He should not betray himself with his speeches again nor allow any member of his cabinet to do so.
The media is the soul of democracy, once the soul is caged the state cannot make any meaningful progress. While courting the media, you must clear every public suspicion of your attempt to gag the media.
Shadrach Okon, a journalist writes from the agrarian community of Uruk Obong in Abak LGA.
