Encounter with Buhari’s spokesmen

Vice President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) writes on the courtesy visit of the association to Presidential spokesmen, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu.

 

Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) sent a three-member delegation to pay a courtesy visit to the spokesmen of President Muhammdu Buhari. The delegation was led by John Ehiguese, President, and included Muyiwa Akintunde (Vice President) and Mike Nzeagwu (Assistant General Secretary)

Anyone who has been to the Presidential Villa in previous administrations will understand the simplicity that has become the DNA of President Muhammadu Buhari government. The visit of the PRCAN three-member delegation to the Villa on Thursday, January 21, 2016 reinforces my belief that Nigeria is on the path to doing things the right way.

Due to flight delay from Lagos, we arrived after the President’s spokesmen had left their desks for the reception organised for our sports heroes and heroines. We were ushered into the office of the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) and watched the live transmission of the reception. At 10am on the dot, the President walked into the hall to commence the programme. No African time (indeed, that has since become Nigerian time as other African countries do not mess around with your time).

Meanwhile, we had a 2pm flight back to Lagos as we had to be on ground for the commissioning of PRCAN secretariat that same evening in Lagos. We had planned to arrive the Villa by 9am and hold the meeting with the Presidential spokesmen before they left for the reception. In time past, we would have to wait till our flight would depart. After all, the President’s aides must hang around him all day. Not this time.

Less than 10 minutes after the ceremony, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu walked into the former’s office unheralded, their photographer in tow. Pleasantries over, we had photo sessions and then our discussion. No air around these guys. No sense of importance. Even the sound bites were to the facts that we are here to serve and not to be served.

A member of our delegation criticised the dress sense of one of the President’s men. The rest of us toed his line. But our guests took it in good strides and promised to pass on the message.

In 30 minutes or so, we were done with our mission and we took our exit, arrived the airport in good time to catch our flight back to base.

CHANGE is indeed in the air!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *