PERCEPTION IS REALITY.(*private conversation with a friend)

Yeah, about Buhari! Ropo, see, Buhari is his own enemy! You would ask why? Buhari has problem with the use of words! His wrong use of words and political podium cast him in the mould of a selfish politician whose aims and aspirations is to achieve his political ambition not minding if the country boil and innocent blood flows. Of course this lack of discretion in the use of words gives him the bad image he's battling with, up until this moment. For instance, many southerners still perceive him as a religious bigot as a result of his careless talk on religion matters. (Many of these careless utterances are in the public domain ). Again, many Nigerians see him as a blood thirsty demon that should be cast out of the political landscape. And dont forget that in the PR world, perception is reality and image is everything (You know a lot about Branding, I'm just reminding you about it ). So, this image problem makes him a hard sell, even to voters in the middle belt and some parts of the so called core North! 

Still on words. There is this thing called C.V.A - Communication Value Added! Almost all politicians in America know how to use it to stunning advantage. It is still new in Nigeria though. But how I wish somebody like Gen Buhari knew how to harness it to garner votes from left, right and center of Nigeria rather than the language of threat, bloodshed, bloodbath, bloodletting (and every other word that has blood as its prefix ) that we have now known him with. I'm not even sure he reads as much as some of us are expected of him. Otherwise he would have come across some books like; 48 Laws of Power and Art of Seduction (by Robert Greene) where folks use CVA to poisonous effect to break barriers and disarm enemies/oppositions; bend walls and muscles .

 Hmm, Ropo,history is full of dark personalities like Hitler, Bob Jones, Saddam Hussein, Mussolini, even soft- spoken Osama Bin Laden, who wielded CVA to achieve their 'wicked' desire. Of course, history is also rich with towering figures who use CVA for the greater good. Examples are Jesus Christ, Paul the Apostle, Mohammed, Gandhi, and a whole raft of prophets large or small. Even common sense dictates that to woo a girl, you dont use the language of threat, command and "obey the last order" which belong to the barracks. All you need are words of endearments; sweet words that would break stony hearts and make some nun reconsider her vow!

 Another problem with Buhari that I've noticed is this puritanical nature or strait-laced attitude, in another words, a purist mentality of his. Know what? People with such holier-than- thou lifestyle are usually intolerable of others viewpoints (intra-party squabble in CPC ). They wont mix with others to learn how to do new things. They still hold on to antiquated ways of doing things not knowing that the world has shifted by few degrees. (That was part of the reasons why A.D died) 

Ropo, the truth is, Buhari is yet to understand the language of politics which is COMPROMISE!!! His unyielding nature and lack of adequate alliances across the Niger cost him some votes in the last election and gave the behemoth PDP cheap electoral victory, you remember! (Dont let anybody deceive you, that shoeless, clueless son of a fisherman won the election). 

Ropo, in conclusion, I just think Buhari is a good product in a poor package and the truth is, the sands are running out on him, for he would be more than 70 by 2015 (I guess). He's going to be a liability for any party that would be magnanimous enough to field him come 2015, all because of his advanced age and his albatross - image palava !! Thanks Adedayo

June 8, 2012 6:00 pm

(THIS IS A PRIVATE MESSAGE BETWEEN AKINROPO, AN ARDENT SUPPORTER OF GEN. M. BUHARI, AND I, IN 2012)