“Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.” — Thomas Jefferson
Today, in Nigeria’s government communication space, the most familiar tool of image-making is propaganda. It is often wielded like a three-edged sword: defend every action of government (right or wrong); stifle or victimize dissenting voices; and flatter the principal with reckless sycophancy. Anyone who fails to uphold these norms is tagged a “bad” spokesperson.
Sadly, here, emotions often overshadow reasoning. The room for freedom of expression shrinks, especially when those views contradict the interests of those in power. This unhealthy trend has led to extreme outcomes.
For instance about five years ago, following the incitement of his Media Assistants, a governor in one of the neighbouring states, went cross-border to pick someone in Nsukka who was alleged to have made some irking posts about him on social media. The case of Agba Jalingo in Cross River State is still fresh in our collective memory. In 2020, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a courageous journalist, was sanctioned by the immediate past former Kano state Governor, Alh. Umar Ganduje, on the advice of his Media Advisers, for what they called “unguarded” utterances on the person of President Buhari on social media platforms. The list goes on.
These examples are not mere stories. They reveal a dangerous culture where media management in government circles is too often anchored on intimidation rather than communication.
So, when Aka Eze Aka assembled us in the first week of August last year, just days after clinching the party’s ticket, his message was unambiguous: “We must change the narrative of grassroots leadership for good in our homeland.”
That tone defined his approach from day one. It was the reason he inaugurated his Media Team even before the Campaign Council. A vision preceded strategy.
We swung into action, Ward-to-Ward, sharing his manifesto and spotlighting his character and competence. We never lied. We never attributed to him what he did not say. After every campaign speech, he held review sessions with us, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
Fast-forward to his assumption of office: for six months, he deliberately had no media team, except one committed soldier, Jude Eze, keeping the wheel in motion. Aka’s reason was simple: he is not a cosmetic leader. He is pragmatic, not rhetorical; real, not performative. And such a leadership style sits well with Spencer Johnson, who said: “Integrity is telling yourself the truth. Honesty is telling the truth to other people.”
Our mission has always been pure professional media management which is anchored on the following:
• Communicating his policies to the people
• Clarifying issues of public concern
• Highlighting achievements and plans firsthand
Even when some misunderstood our calm posture as naivety, we were unmoved. We are not here to shout anyone down. We detest posturing this administration on the quicksand of sycophancy. We do not believe in propaganda warfare. And our Principal does not encourage such.
The recent kidnappings in Udenu triggered heavy cyber-bullying and coordinated media smear attacks against our Chairman. Detractors tried desperately to drag us into the mud. But they failed. St. Augustine of Hippo had forewarned that “A man does not have to defend truth. Truth is like a lion; set it free and it will defend itself.”
Unlike others who pay social mercenaries to paint their LGAs as crime-free, despite daily tragedies; Aka Eze Aka acknowledged the incidents, empathized with the families, and doubled efforts toward a lasting solution. He always led from the front. He always led from the front.
He spent sleepless nights on field operations, relocated to his village for closer monitoring, and deployed drone technology for reconnaissance in suspected areas.
While political opportunists attacked him, he focused on protecting lives. From a series of security meetings to entering deep forests in search of victims and their captors, we never lost sight of our responsibility: tell the truth and let the people see leadership in action.
Aka Eze Aka is not the everyday politician who prioritizes image over impact. He is the leader who keeps his eyes on the goalpost, constantly defying the defenders of insecurity on the field of governance.
Udenu now has a Chairman who places service above showmanship; substance above noise; action above propaganda.
Udenu shall succeed!
© AkaEzeAka Media Team.
