By Sam Onwuemeodo
I had taken time to read the lmo Governor’s written Speech , which he presented at the 18th Edition of GUILD OF EDITORS CONFERENCE, Held In Owerri, lmo State capital.
The governor used 98% of the lengthy speech, to talk about the controversies that characterised his “emergence” as the APC governorship candidate for the 2019 election. To talk about the controversies that surrounded his “emergence” as the governor of lmo state. To talk about who did what and who didn’t do what in lmo. Making avalanche of insinuations and innuendos.
Blaming both big and small in the state.
The governor used such golden opportunity, with Editors of leading media establishments in the Country present, to raise issues that only ended up telling the august visitors that all is still not well in the state and with the state.
ln the referenced speech, there was no Public Relations for his government or for the state. He neither marketed his government nor the state. And the stories to that effect followed that pattern.
The lmo Governor established before the visitors that, how he became Candidate and Governor are still major issues in the state. That, lmo is still no go area.That , he is still battling with acceptance issue. That, he is still not at home with lmo people. That’s what the governor told the visiting editors with his speech, perhaps unknown to him . That’s the imports or the nucleus or the crux of his speech in question.
And the incontrovertible fact, to the editors, remains that, if almost 3 years on seat as number one citizen of lmo state, the governor is still trying to explain or justify how he got the ticket and how he became governor, it means that, the governor has been having sleepless nights. A case of the Conscience being an open wound only truth can heal.
We have non-verbal communication or what we regard as salient points. I feel for my governor. Our governor. lmo Governor. His governorship is no more in contention. The governor should have helped to tell his audience that his governorship is no more in contention or is no more contentious. How he became governor. By ignoring such stories and talking to prove that he is not under pressure or tension.
The speech lacked the expected confidence. The confidence of someone having no skeleton in his cupboard. The confidence of someone who has no moral burden. The confidence of someone enjoying what he deserved or merited. But the governor’s speech betrayed all these.
And l blame the speech writer since the governor has never been a media man or public Relations practitioner.
The governor should retrieve himself from his Speech writer.
What if all those affected by some of the governor’s claims or his insinuations and innuendos, decided to react?. The governor, obviously would be at the receiving end because he is the one selling red oil in the market. He is the one living in a glass house, as the governor .
The speech writer should be writing what would help the governor and his “one day , one trouble” government. And not what the governor would like to hear , also because of the troublesome nature of his government and the hostility coloration he has given to his government.
The speech writer can take care of all these, by knowing when and where to blow hot and where and when to do otherwise.
My name is Sam Onwuemeodo.