Presidency should sensitize Nigerians on policies

In my teenage years, I was enthralled by the bearing of prolific writers such as Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah (now my Lord Bishop), Edwin Madunagu, Fr. Gabriel Osu, Reuben Abati and many others who wrote wonderful columns again and again. Even though I never read any of your pieces, I was reliably informed that you were a good writer and journalist.

I listened to your interview on AIT’s Kakaaki program on January 16 where you talked about the recent Benue killings by suspected hoodlums that many say are Fulani Herdsmen and I must say that interview came so short of my expectation especially since you occupy a very important position as spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

I follow spokespersons elsewhere such as Sarah Sanders and see how alive she is every time she appears to defend the policies of President Donald Trump. I may find it hard to compare you both.

President Buhari currently suffers from a crisis of followership in the middle-belt and many states in southern Nigeria and his administration needs direction by media men associated to him. You were to fill the void and to arouse the consciousness of many watchers who may have dull speculative resume to position their thoughts for nationalism but you missed that chance by not only wearing an oleaginous, elated face but you went about issues of death in a jovial manner, trying to rationalWize what happened in Benue State, a national tragedy without ashen faces.

Rationalization of evil by whomever and wherever promotes social injustice. I wish you used the opportunity to on behalf of your principal let bad people know that their steps are being watched and to retrace their steps.

To be a presidential spokesperson is no mean feat. With people like you, Nigerians if guided properly may not be politically inert. After all it was John F. Kennedy who said, “The hottest part of Hell should be reserved for all those who keep quiet in the face of moral crisis.”

Sir, I know that writing craft is one of the most difficult in the world. Writers are thinkers and real writers only write when they are inspired not necessarily out of commercial necessity and in my view you would have served Nigeria better in your capacity by not only speaking but touching the hearts of the Benue people, empathizing with them so they could understand the policies of the president.

You clearly struggled with the job in that interview, giving me the impression that you were not prepared before you came on air. Nigerians want an open and transparent government as well as respect and tact by presidential spokespersons when they give press interviews.

It struck me as I write this, how beautiful our country would have been if majority of media men truly live their talk, to stand for principles till the end. Youngsters looking up to them will certainly choose principles over nothingness, especially those on the journey seeking to evolve.

Certainly your poor handling of that interview would not stop the chanting of war songs, the pouring diatribes on the north by Nigerians from other geographic blocks.

Simon Abah, Abuja