A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Thursday, condemned the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s attempt to smear the image of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign through a foreign Public Relations firm, Levick.
Ms. Ezekwesili in a tweet through her Twitter handle, @obyezeks, said it was hateful for the presidency to hire the PR firm to help government tag Nigerian citizens as terrorists.
“It’s to SUCH HATE? That our Presidency deployed our public resources to hire US firm @LEVICK to label INNOCENT CITIZENS “terrorists”??” she tweeted.
The former minister said she doubted it when she first learnt that the PR firm was helping the Federal Government spread lies that the #BringBackOurGirls group was a franchise until the spokesperson for the State Security Services, Marilyn Ogar, said so.
The federal government paid the PR firm owned by Richard Levick $1.2 million (N195 million) to help manage what many consider government’s inept handling of the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
According to The Hill, an American newspaper specialised in covering the American congress, the contract was awarded to help change “international and local media narrative” surrounding government’s efforts to rescue the girls.
Details contained in the contract document obtained by The Hill showed that the firm would also be “assisting the government’s efforts to mobilise international support in fighting Boko Haram as part of the greater war on terror”.
The firm also promised to assist the government in effecting “real change” in Nigeria.
Mr. Levick was expected to work with Jared Genser, a human rights attorney, who has also worked for notable personalities such as South African Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu; and Burmese pro-democracy advocate, Aung Suu Kyi.
The team would publicise the “President Goodluck Jonathan Administration’s past, present and future priority to foster transparency, democracy and the rule of law throughout Nigeria.”
According to the contract, Levick would be paid $75,000 (about N11.6 million) per month for its effort plus extra cost for advertisements, video production and website development. This would be done through an unnamed state-owned media agency.
The company would get an additional fee of $22,500 (N3.48million) if an associate of the company travelled to Nigeria.
An associate of Mr. Genser’s company, Perseus Strategies, would get $25,000 (N3.87million) per month as retainer.
Ms. Ezekwesili, however, advised Mr. Jonathan to take actions that would rebuild citizen’s trust rather than engage in such frivolous spending.
“My FREE image laundering advice to our Presidency is to take actions that would rebuild citizens TRUST. ACT to #BringBackOurGirls CONCRETELY,” she tweeted. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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GEJ The DEVIL in Sheep's skin. He will also go the way of one of his predecessors Abacha
ReplyDeleteAmen
DeleteU mumu no be small.......during ezekwezeli regime did he turn heavy to level ground
ReplyDeleteobi can do the worst. we know you very well.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why we are too sentimental. We should be dealing with facts rather than make ourselves fools. If you don't know what to say keep quiet. The question is did Jonathan hire a PR firm. If he did that is the most stupid thing period. I am sure he will use public money for. What a waste
DeleteCats is been let out of the bag! Here some will still criticize madam obj, facts and figures were stated above anyway to all beginnings, there's always an end. No one needs to tell a normal reasoning nigerian that GEJ/his administration is a failure, this has nothing to do with hate,party or tribe but as an individual. He's not the kind of president Nigeria needs now, he seems he's unable to make or reach a candid decision on time and he's with a wavering mind.
ReplyDeleteMark.
This woman is a disgrace to womanhood and an embarrassment to Ndigbo. Emergency activist.During her tenure as education minister what did she achieve. Useless woman.I can imagine what your husband is putting up with. The sagacity of the proud foolish woman is foolishness of a humble woman. This is why I respect the Ideals and virtues of real Muslim women..
ReplyDeleteYour mother must be a disgace to you and your generation. Omo ale
Deletelols
ReplyDeletestop using tht namw
ReplyDeletestop using that name(mark) bcoz that is not ur name. ur are a muslim and ur name is muhammad.
@ Anon 1048h, lol! I detest pple like you cz you are worms! What's is religion has to do with the post above? Who are you to tell me my name?at least I had one up! I think u are an intimidated low self ego element that's why u could not put up your name on your post even when nobody knows who or where u are, yet u couldn't do it. Be focused man or whatever u are, Nigeria has issues let's work to resolve it we may agree or disagree while doing that but stop picking on pple there are mOre bothering issues! Muhammad ko na Moshudi u for talk.
ReplyDeleteMark.
She don't even care, l met her children crying cos of her nasty perception in the country. I wonder whats her problem.
ReplyDelete