President Tinubu Thanks Emir Sanusi for Fostering Social Consensus on Economic Reforms

“President Tinubu has taken note of the speech delivered by His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, at the 21st Gani Fawehinmi Lecture, where he acknowledged the necessity of the economic reforms initiated by the current government.

“As HRH Sanusi II aptly put it, these reforms aim to address the detrimental effects of gross economic mismanagement of previous decades. The president thanks the Emir for helping to foster better understanding of the government’s economic reforms.

“Although HRH Sanusi II’s speech hinted at a standoff between himself and the government, the president wishes to assure His Royal Highness that the government holds him in high esteem and harbours no ill will towards him.

“President Tinubu remains committed to delivering reforms that will ultimately benefit all Nigerians in the long term. He is open to ideas from experts, including HRH Sanusi II, who has previously championed some of the policies the government is now implementing.”

With the above, we are imagining an alternate universe where Nigerian government spokespersons are not dedicated to Bolekaja (adversarial) school of public communication. In that alternate universe, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris would reply to the recent speech of Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II in a more conciliatory manner, focusing the positive angles in the former central banker’s speech rather than making it seem like the government does indeed have ongoing conflict with Sanusi as the he insinuated

Instead of the above, what we got from the Minister is a long statement that was indecorous, unnecessarily disrespectful, and ended grabbing headlines that would not do the government any favour.

Look at these paragraphs, for example: “However, we find it amusing that a leader, more so one from an institution that ennobles forthrightness, fairness, and justice would publicly admit to shuffling off saying the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism.”

“It is deeply disappointing that reforms widely recognized as essential by global experts—including by Emir Sanusi II himself—are now being subtly condemned by him because of shift in loyalty.”

Nigerian government communicators are too quick to anger and acerbic in their public statements. There is an unhealthy obsession with putting down people who might slightly disagree with the government. They often turn reluctant critics into full-blown critics just by the way they respond to mild criticism. Often, they miss opportunities to sell their policies in a positive manner and end muddling up issues in a manner that further confuses and annoys their audience.

There was nothing in the Emir’s speech that had warranted Mr Idris’s anger. Sanusi, who had previously served as Nigeria’s central bank governor, had said, “I can provide insights into the challenges we face, how they were predictable, and even avoidable. But I won’t. I’ve chosen not to comment on the economy, reforms, or anything that could benefit this government. They are my friends, but if they don’t act like friends, I won’t act like one either.”

Despite vowing not to offer an analysis that could help the government, Sanusi did offer such an analysis when he said, “what we’re experiencing today is, at least in part, the result of decades of irresponsible management. People warned about the consequences of our actions, but those in power ignored them.”

While Sanusi is understandably angry about the role the federal government has reportedly played in the protracted struggle over the throne of Kano, he nonetheless recognized that the current government is addressing (clumsily?) problems that were caused by previous government. There was no need for Mr. Idris to respond with anger and disrespect. Take your win and ignore the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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