Despite my media background, I find it difficult to get glued to the television set or have time to listen to the radio.
Except for certain consequential reasons, I don’t devote time to radio and T.V programmes and anytime I do, I only listen to news, music and comedy.
However, Monday the 19th of November, 2012 was one of the exceptional days as I had time for my radio. While I was on my way into Owerri from a neighbouring state in the morning hours, I turned on my car radio set to Hot FM (99.5), Owerri and it was time for the station’s popular morning ritual “The people’s assembly”. Before reviewing the newspapers that always heralded the daily exercise, the anchorman and chief presenter, Ogechi Iwu announced the presence of the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Chinedu Offor in the studio. Iwu indicated to the listeners that the state government spokesman who also doubles as Governor Okorocha’s media aide will speak on the state of affairs in the state.
That piece of information forced me to not only concentrate but also to become elated to hear from the commissioner on latest developments in Imo State.
Mr Offor was quickly ushered into the programme after the presenters had done justice to the available newspapers for review.
The commissioner went ahead to enumerate the giant strides recorded so far by the Rescue Government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Expectedly, Offor while lambasting past administrations for the vain glory they achieved in the last 12 years, trumpeted their 17months success in all facets that hitherto surpassed the records of their predecessors. Granted, Offor is licensed and charged to achieve as image maker of the present administration. I enjoyed the programme as it was a glaringly opportunity to hear from Offor. I had to pack my car by the roadside to concentrate fully. I was also thrilled by the American phonetics employed by the Onuimo-born journalist turned politician to intimate this audience of Gov. Okorocha’s desire to write his name in gold in the state’s landmark.
However, the tempo of the programme changed when a barrage of questions by the lead presenter Ogechi Iwu and few callers were hurled at the Information Commissioner. While expressing outright ignorance of some of the administration’s policies, Offor who was unable to give adequate response to some questions from callers threw caution to the wind while responding to any caller who asked questions. One regular caller and a reputed staunch member of the “people’s parliament” of People’s Assembly, Chris Akpunonu from world bank called to ask the reasons why the state government has fallen short in environmental sanitation as heaps of refuse and filth litter major streets and roads in Owerri, the economic value of capital projects like Bongo Park, Freedom Park and Ojukwu Centre as well as the problem of the Water Board as residents of the state capital do not drink from public water supply again. In contrast to the earlier stated regulation by the programme anchorman forbidding usage of indecent language and foul words and advice that participants should attack the issue not the person, Offor in his reaction described the caller, Akpunonu as a person with a “small mind” for wanting to know the economic value and importance of some of the present administration’s projects.
Instead of intimating the listeners with the reasons why refuse dumps have overtaken portions of some major streets in Owerri and what the government is doing to surmount the menace and return Owerri to its “cleanest city in Nigeria” status, Offor engaged in what philosophers would call argumentetum ad huminen (or fallacy ad huminen) attacking the person not the the issue. Irrespective of the colour, creed, race or platform, Akpunonu is entitled to his questions while the Commissioner is entitled to answer or ignore rather than cast aspersions on him.
I guess that the purpose of the talk show was for the Commissioner and the state government to afford the listening public the opportunity to keep abreast with activities of the government and not to verbally attack participants.
Because of Offor’s paucity of knowledge in managing the image of the governor and his administration, he exhibited mediocrity and left the audience bewildered about some of the activities of the state government.
Offor’s arrogant posture also manifested in an interview he granted to a National daily- The Nation. When asked to comment about the claims of the elected Chairmen that their tenure has not expired, Offor went berserk and called the embattled LG bosses unprintable names.
In the Hot FM live programme, Offor got what he did not bargain for as callers through their questions undoubtedly pushed him to the wall, forcing the government spokesman to turn to a rabble rouser. The bombardment from callers further exposed the Commissioner’s incompetence in managing the Governors image and publicity. Offors insistence that the Government House does not move
