While on Arise Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Show, Professor of Political science, Bolaji Akinyemi has warned the president’s speechwriters to be mindful of what they write for public consumption especially as it concerns the international community.
He also cautioned the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai to guide against antagonizing the country’s local and foreign audience when issuing press releases to explain the position of the military.
The ex-minister also spoke against all the controversy in the reported shootings of the End SARS protesters at the Lekki Tollgate stressing that the reaction of the president to the concerns raised by the international community was far from expected.
The President had said in his speech, “To our neighbours in particular and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing developments in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgement and making hasty pronouncements.”
Responding to that statement, Professor Akinyemi said that he does not think the President’s speech is helpful “when he decides to demonise the international community and tells them basically to either mind their business or that they don’t know what they are talking about.
“Invariably and because of technology, the international community knows what he is talking about.
“I will not be surprised if the United States of America, USA through its satellite has videos of what happened at Lekki Toll Gate that night.
“I remember during the first Gulf war, the American Chief of Staff telling the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, to turn the camera on to one of their satellites around because he wanted to see precisely what was happening in Iraq, in a particular area and they did – real-time.
“Even if you want to disagree with the international community, it is good to do so in a civil way. If I were writing that speech, I wouldn’t have written it that way.”
To the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, Professor Akinyemi said, “Let me also expand my comment to cover the lack of civility by the statement released to the public by the Chief of Army Staff.
“I have been dealing with military officers of General level. I didn’t serve under General Yakubu Gowon but I interacted with him. I interacted with Generals (Murtala) Muhammed, TY Danjuma, my boss, Ibrahim Babangida.
“I am used to civility in the speech by the Generals in the Nigerian Army. I found the tone of that speech offensive.
“Even if you want to put the views of the military across, there are ways to do so without offending your readers or listeners.
“Nigeria should know that it is dealing with the international community as well as the domestic community. You are dealing with educated and civilized people. Those who represent us or speak on our behalf should watch their language,” he added.
