27 June 2019
On the 21st of June 2017, Tina Agbor Esq the then SSG to the CRSG signed a poorly written release against the striking NLC at the time.
On the 21st of June 2019 former media aide to Governor Ayade, Emmanuel Ulayi promoted a badly written press release which invoked public opprobrium.
On the 26th of June 2019, former Commissioner for Tourism now chair of CRSG Taskforce on Refuse Evacuation and Cleanliness Eric Anderson appended his signature to an equally poorly written release.
Comically, it seems to me that the 21st day of June as well as the month of June should be voted the month of 'Badly Written Press Releases for the Government of Cross River State'. But, on a more serious note, it suggests that there is an increasing need for the engagement of professional public relations experts by the government of the state. If not for anything else, at least, for the sake that what is worth doing is worth doing well.
However, it should be stressed like Inyali Peter noted earlier that the proper ability to express oneself in English especially written ability does not translate to being a communication expert, there is artistry in communication. If you ain't an artist in the field, there is nothing you can do better. Again, the mere fact that the public you serve oppose a thing you do suggests immediately that they aren't comfortable with the style of delivery.
Now, I think it's high time I talked a little about the DOPT-gate of last week: the public outlash Godwin Nyiam and his DOPT received wasn't necessarily because of the incident but because of the way his department communicated/managed the incident in the face of the public —this is not the first instance of DOPT being involved in such a mess. The naysayers in Abang Joe Atelhe Abang Ogon Jonas Mpiele who started whipping tribalistic sentiment should learn or they can continue in their characteristic hypocrisy. Or, why did Ud Ofem a graduate of Mass Communication and an acquaintance to #Atelhe take him up publicly reminding him of his campaign against UCTH and the avoidable death of a friend from Ogoja.
A management consultant in the person of Ikakke Bassey for the past decade has always drummed in my ear anytime we talk about marketing and related issues that with the best marketing skill you can sell faeces to just anybody. In marketing, the product/service isn't the key but the marketing skill with which you sell it.
At this juncture I will commend Anderson for the prompt response in correcting the error. Meanwhile, Anderson note that a majority of those, if not all, who've come online to disagree with those who criticised your badly written press release, don't mean well. I am cautious of my use of the phrase 'they are hypocrites'. Your critics mean well and even better.
Efio-Ita Nyok writes from Calabar, Nigeria and can be reached at effioitanyok@gmail.com
