USA Africa Dialogue Series - President Goodluck Jonathan Imagined In Rain-boots And Rolled Up Sleeves!

President Goodluck Jonathan Imagined In Rain-boots And Rolled Up Sleeves!
Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.

How many floods ravaged states and communities has President Goodluck
Jonathan visited since the beginning of these nationwide inundation
and saturation by floods?

When will Nigeria's entire political leadership realize that these
floods are a national security emergency, with potential for
instability?

When will Nigeria's political leadership, regardless of political
party labels, acknowledge these flood devastation which could produce
real and lasting negative consequences, such as cholera, other water
born diseases, food shortages, fuel shortages, severe disruption of
electricity generation and transmission and much more?

When will Nigeria political leadership, do the right thing in this
dire emergency, regardless of political party affiliation and the
usual distractions by negative common denominators of regions,
religion and other biases.

Nigeria is stuck in a flood disaster. Nigeria is in a quagmire of
floods and Nigerians are yearning for a leadership that is alert,
awake and alive to its responsibilities to the citizenry.

Why does there seem to be a complete absence of public officials
expressing concerns and directing and coordinating relief, remedial
measures and engaging in general crises response and crises management
of these deluges of floodgates across Nigeria?

Just imagine if the Public Affairs and Media Advisors which are
embedded in Aso Rock, in the presidency and seat of Nigeria federal
government were actually thinking and looking ahead?

Even a novice and neophyte media person or journalist could not miss
the photo opportunity made available through the ongoing ravages of
floods throughout Nigeria!

How could any media savvy and modern day social media astute person
anywhere on earth miss this great public relations opportunity to meet
and greet, hug and kiss flood victims be missed by the president, the
governors and anyone

Why are there no visible government signs of government of Nigeria
anywhere? Where are plethora of government officials? Why are there no
signs of them in public ?

Why is President Goodluck Jonathan and governors of all floods
affected states demonstrating leadership skills, with their presences
and articulation of this national catastrophe? Why are they not front
and center assuring and reassuring the citizenry?

Wont it be nice to see President Jonathan and these governors in
rolled up sleeves, and with rain-boots, with retinues of their other
officials, taking actual and symbolic gestures, which would let
Nigerians know that someone is, after all, in-charge.

Imagine if public officials in flood affected areas are actually seen
taking measurements of water levels, directing and issuing directives
and assurances, as to safer grounds, safer or alternate roads to
travel.

Imagine if we actually hear, see and encounter relief officials,
explaining what is to be expected and what is and are being done or
contemplated as relief and as remedial measures!

Imagine seeing the Army, Navy, Air Force, NEMA, FRSC, Police and
traffic controllers, actually directing traffic and ensuring there are
no stampedes!

Until the seas and rivers crests, and until floods recedes, we expect
Nigerian government at municipal, state and federal levels to live up
to their responsibilities.

Deliver relief. Explain remedial measures. Control traffic flood and
announce water depths around and near public infrastructures.

President Jonathan and other public officials down the line, should
engage in some public relations in managing these flood disaster.

In the aftermath of these floods, diseases, scarcity and inflation may
very well become challenges, even bigger that the deaths and
destruction of lives and properties which have already been unleashed
onto Nigerians and Nigeria.

Nigerian public officials can certainly do more than Nigerians have
been force to endure in the past couple of weeks. Nigerians deserve
better and Nigeria political leadership can surely do better!

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com