“PUBLIC RELATIONS AND POLITICS” LECTURE

27 years ago this month,exactly on Thursday, 6th February,1992,I delivered a lecture of the above title,at the Quarterly Lecture/ Luncheon of the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR),at the Staff Club of the Oyo State Housing Corporation,Bodija Housing Estate,Ibadan,Oyo State of Nigeria.

In my opening remarks at the said Lecture,I expressed my gratitude to the Oyo State Chapter of the NIPR,of which I am a member,for the kind invitation to me to deliver the February 1992 Lecture.

I said I was happy and comfortable to be in the midst of professional seniors, colleagues and juniors.

I described the given topic of the Lecture,”PUBLIC RELATIONS AND POLITICS “,as being very relevant to PR practitioners and politicians (the period was a prelude to the 1993 General Elections and the subsequent infamous annulment by the now-retired General Ibrahim Babangida-led Federal Military Government of Nigeria).Presently,Nigeria is in the thick of the 2019 General Elections.Talk of relevance.

I refered, above,to the unfair and unexplained annulment of the June 12,1993 Presidential Election,believed to have been won by the now-defunct Social Democratic Party’s (SDP)presidential candidate,the late Basorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola,GCFR. COINCIDENTALLY,I AM TYPING THIS POST THE DAY AFTER THE SATURDAY,16TH FEBRUARY,2019 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS WERE (SURPRISINGLY!)POSTPONED BY THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)”DUE TO SABOTAGE ATTEMPTS,BAD WEATHER,LATE DELIVERIES OF MATERIALS ETC”.

At the 1992 Lecture,I gave three different definitions of PR – (a)the most famous,the British Institute of Public Relations,(b)the Mexican Statement(Definition of PR)by the International PR Conference in Mexico City in 1978 and (c)another independent definition of PR as,”an apparatus that facilitates the process of accommodation between parties such that the power relations between them do not degenerate into a conflict or conflicts.”

I emphasised the 1978 Mexican Statement to my audience,because it was,and still is, my favourite definition of PR,as it emphasises the following key roles of PR:
(1)Analysis – assessing a situation or current image
(2)Consequences – considering the implications of what is discovered
(3)Counselling – advising (preferably in writing)Managent,Government,Employer,Client etc
Programme – having well-prepared Action Plans,Programmes and
(4)Interests – making adequate(financial/ materials)plans for social responsiblities for corporate/government/personal benefit and public acceptance/sympathy
As regards politics,I defined it as the art of government,civil rather than military, and the management of political parties.

I descibed the practitioners of politics as people who are versed in the science (please note the word “science”)of government;engaged in political life or sratesmanship;interested in party politics and make a profession or a game of politics (this aspect appears,sadly, to be in the majority here).
I touched several topics that make politics an instrument of equity,unity,peace, development,fun etc,and the nexus of PR in the attaintment and sustainance.

Among these are integrity, education, professionalism, acceptable image and communication tools,etc..

I humbly wish to conclude this post by saying that my 27-year old NIPR ( Oyo State Chapter)Lecture is as relevant today,as it was in 1992.

“PR AND POLITICS” Lecture paper,culled from page four of my book,”ALWAYS FOR PUBLIC GOOD”,presented to the public at my 50th birthday lecture/luncheon on 27th October,2000, at the swimming poolside of Premier Hotel,Mokola Hill,Ibadan,Oyo State of Nigeria.