You Can’t Underestimate Power of Word as Stabiliser, Shettima Warns

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said the power of a word to stabilise or disrupt a nation, could not be underestimated.

He said this yesterday at the opening of the 1st National Spokespersons Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

He noted that the maiden summit of spokespersons was a timely intervention in a world where lies and propaganda vied for dominance amid the complexities of daily existence.

According to him, the summit was an invitation to spokespersons to partner the government in crafting the right narratives to change the Nigerian story and reinvent the society.

“Each one of us is as good as our image. This image can be reversed or distorted, but that’s the essence of image-building. The stories revolving around each person or entity are derived from the conversations about and surrounding them. 

“This reality makes those charged with speaking for them just as powerful as the subjects they represent. This makes you the most powerful force in the maintenance of social order. So, I am truly honoured to join this gathering of the shapers of the world as we know it.

“In the life of a nation, the power of a single word to stabilise or disrupt cannot be underestimated. Therefore, it is crucial that as we exchange ideas, as we share knowledge, and as we build relationships, we do so within a framework of order, not chaos,” Shettima said.

The vice-president said as a government, they recognised that falling prey to false narratives and targeted agendas was inescapable as they were usually aimed at undermining and misrepresenting one’s ideas or perceptions.

He stressed that the importance of diligent and objective communication was never more evident than when confronted with the deceptive tactics of fake news merchants, who dedicate their lives to casting shadows on noble efforts and aspirations to inform and enlighten the world.

He, however, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s belief in citizen communication and engagement that Nigerians must by right and necessity be well-informed, accurately and in a timely manner, considered the most practical antidote to the waves of partisan and sectional agendas promoted by hacks invested in tearing the nation apart.