PMB 101, No Rodents

As I once wrote on the activities of BMC, the President, by his nature, is a brand that does not need spinning. The truth is his hallmark. Simple.

Say anything wrong about PMB, even in good faith, to cover him and land yourself in trouble. It takes just the next interview and Buhari will deny an incredulous lie any of his staff or party official may say on his behalf. No matter how hard is a question, he will just be sincere about its answer. Take it or leave it. That is Buhari and I think it is why many Nigerians like him.

Of course, one can grant a whole interview and say Buhari holds so and so view about this and that issue; he will read it and approve it on the condition that it reflects his views totally. Otherwise, just wait for the day he will disclaim the statement.

You can even tell a white lie to further his cause but it must be something that he can defend any day. Our friend Sam Nda-Isaiah once went to a general to source for funds for the campaign in 2007 or so and claimed that he was sent by Buhari, without blinking an eye. Immediately he left his host, he called Buhari and said, "Oga, ka yi hakuri, wallahi na yi karya da sunanka. Na je wajen wane na ce masa ana bukatar kudi." Buhari laughed and said, "Ba komi Sam." Sam's white lie paid off very handsomely.

I was once quilty of a similar offence. I, along with Mo-Allah-yidi, represented Buhari at a ANPP zonal meeting in Onitcha in August 2002. It was a Saturday. After the event we hosted journalists from major newspapers and answered questions regarding Buhari's direction in politics. I sat there enjoying the half hour glory of playing Buhari, always trying as much as possible to say what he would have said and avoiding any statement that may embarrass him. On Monday, Thisday made it its cover story. When I met him in the Jabi Road TBO office to tell him we have returned safely, I met him reading the story will delight. He said, "This is good. At least, it does not harm anyone." I was delighted too.

His media team will do itself much service by calibrating their principal properly. It is a waste of time to try any makeup on him. It will not work.

So if for obvious heath reasons he needs to work from home and attend to fewer people than he would do in his office, just say so. It was said before. Simple.

But if you claim that he will operate from home because some rodents that invaded his office will take a while to clear, consider yourself in trouble already. Definitely, one day, the President will be asked about the rodents story and he will flatly disclaim it - except where the rodents it was metaphorical.

That is PMB 101.

Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde
25 August 2017