Backstage 15 September, 2008

Information becomes ineffective if the person issuing it uses convoluted language to suit his own ego without the target audience being able to decode it. On the other hand, it is possible for the communicator to use correct language but the hearer may misinterpret it completely. Here information or communication also becomes ineffective.

But pray, what then do we call a situation whereby an official saddled with effective information dissemination tells lies to mislead his target audience? Weird communication, one can say. That is exactly what is happening in Nigeria where the citizens are confused about the state of health of their President. John Odey, the Minister of Communication, who should to tell the people what is happening tells lies with no more effort than blowing his nose.

Odey declared penultimate Wednesday: “The Federal Government wishes to appreciate the concern that has been raised in the newspapers and some sections of the media over the past few days on the state of health of Mr. President, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua. The Federal Government wishes to restate here that Mr. President is very well and healthy. He is in good health to steer the affairs of the state, to bring about better livelihood for the generality of the people of Nigeria. He is expected back in Nigeria soon after his trip to Saudi Arabia where he has gone on lesser hajj.”

The Minister said this without reference to rumours about the treatment being received by the President at a Saudi Arabian hospital, just as he evaded giving the actual date President Yar’Adua would return to the country.

Odey’s information bungling notwithstanding, Nigerians have begun asking constitutional questions and some deft political moves are going on. These and more are contained in this week’s cover story, written by our Abuja Bureau Chief, Oluokun Ayorinde.