From Ali Baba’s desk:
”There is the truth and there is what people want you to believe. Our national bird is not the eagle. Whether it’s flying or Super. Our national bird is the Black Crown Crane. That is our national bird. But like everything about us, we want people to see us this way and not that way. Look at the two birds. Which do you think appeals to your understanding of strength, speed and royalty? Never mind.
You see, perception is not how people see what you present. How they see it is their choice. That’s why you put your best foot forward. So I was on a panel discussing how to MARKET NIGERIA better. The issue of demarketing of course always crops up when marketing is being tabled. There seems to be a growing attempt to demarket Nigeria by so many people. Even by us Nigerians.
The people in government think, no, BELIEVE, that the opposition and hate speech makers are responsible for all of these demarketing. I disagreed. Because, the things you allow to happen, or don’t, at your watch, become what signposts the perception that people will have of you.
You can’t say someone is demarketing You, when after over 20 attacks by herdsmen, you still have not done anything about it. You can not claim someone is demarketing You when you do not INTENTIONALLY inform the people on but wait till the opposition puts out a story, then you jump to defend yourself. That’s REACTIONARY. We also can’t have senior officers stealing and expect to have a good image. That in itself demarkets us big time.
When members of state houses of Assembly fight and slam the Mace on the heads of one another, in the hallowed chambers, that’s demarketing in 3D. When you organise an election and say 16 votes is more than 19, that is demarketing, duurhhh! When your justices are chopping bribes left and centre and rubishing the last hope of freedom and democracy, THE COURTS.
If that’s not demarketing, what Is? SGF was sacked for weeding and grassing. And he is not a herdsman. That is ingrown demarketing. That is why we need to do more to celebrate those things that market us well. The guy who painted Obama, Anthony Joshua, Bobsled team, our music, movies, intellectuals and professionals. AND PUNISH DEMARKETERS.”
