Charles Udoh: The challenges of mixing Politics and Media

BY IMOH BEN

The commissioner for information, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Charles Udoh, a corporate communication expert and media professional of uncommon dept has delved into the muddy political water of the state with unusual remarkable style to survive the rude shock any fresher from a corporate world background would confront. He is moving from the known to the unknown with definite resolve to brave the odds and conquer any challenge.    

His surprise emergence as the most preferred choice from the unknown source held top politicians spellbound until it was evident that Governor Udom Emmanuel took his decision based on the clear need to engage another professional in the prime ministry. So, no politician can claim credit for foisting him on the governor, which is what the godfathers would have wanted to claim, to indicate they pull the strings that controls his work disposition in politics and as a professional.

Many people are still having sleepless nights on the tactics necessary to capture the commissioner into their various political cells and media entrapments. From the professional angle the media hawkers are closing in out of sheer desperation to be in the forefront to get his attention and tell him the need to be his image drivers, and also brief him of other practitioners with leprous hands he needs not go near.

And, if their fail because their scripts doesn’t appeal to the hybrid strategy and corporate approach expected by the commissioner, soon the newspapers, social media etc will heat up the arena of politics by attacking government to give Mr. Charles Udoh urgent counter offensive job to launder the image of government as a test for his proficiency. Most jobbers will run to Global Concorde or The Post Newspaper to file in stories against government and then dash in to see the commissioner to seek urgent patronage to repair the damage inflicted by them. And yet these publishers will get knocks and blames for what friends of government do or refuse to do in times of critical need, like now that senator Ita Enang is on rampage against the government, many are silent instead of writing, while opposition writers are having a field day. 

This is why he needs not rush to judge writers on face value or score some media people as friends or enemies of government until he knows them better, because in Akwa Ibom State there is truly no independent medium, as the media and politics are fed from the same source like husband and wife. And as the commissioner for information, Mr. Charles Udoh by now understands that the two are twins he cannot separate in the state and with this, the better he will manage the image of the administration. In fact, not withstanding whether the Peoples Democratic Party has a spokesman, he is in the command post of government image machine because the government makes the ruling party what it is through information dished out.

Media environment in Akwa Ibom State must have shown him that every practitioner here is a partisan politician without tag on their clothes. Even charlatans in the industry will invade his abode in hordes unlike what is the familiar outlook outside political office all in the name of journalism. He can’t shut them out, but he can tactfully manage them as necessary evil, because they have their nuisance value at some critical moments of need for politics sake, especially now he is also a topmost politician by his appointment.

Most people ignorantly believe that as the commissioner for information, Mr. Charles Udoh is engaged to set up special propaganda mechanism to counter opposition blackmail campaign in order to polish image of the administration from deception angle. This is where they are wrong in its entirety; because with a sound professional like him, with little political exposure, but vast professional experiences and integrity, Deacon Udom Emmanuel has chosen the best to give objective and factual presentations on the affairs of the State for public confidence to be retained, because all his professional accomplishment can go down the drain if he does the unethical. 

And, good enough this administration is not known to build its image on foundation of lies as such there are no lies for him to hide. Rather, the commissioner is here to wrap up our state’s image in beautify packages, brand them and market to global reach. 

This is why he does not need negative distractions, but support from the media community to perform this strategic task. It is very commendable that Mr. Charles Udoh has extended his hands of friendship to Nigerian Unions of Journalists and other key stakeholders in order to partner positively for the good of the state. Blackmail and propaganda which characterize the political scene is a major challenge the collective efforts of publishers and reporters in the states can bury for the sake of giving good image through objective reports.  

  
On the political turf of Uyo, Mr. Charles Udoh has displayed remarkable strides, especially when he consulted with some stakeholders to usher in a new spirit of teamwork and cement the bond of unity. His courtesy visit after his swearing in to Hon. Monday Eyo, the member representing Uyo State constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to give honour to whom honour is due was itself a display of humility and summary that he knows the game of grassroot politics, because he recognized that the member is an indispensable factor at least while sitting as the lawmaker. 

The visit to other stakeholders in Uyo political and traditional class scored him several positive commendations unusually showered on a perceived fresher in the scene. Mr. Charles Udoh is today the beautify bride Uyo people must decorate like peacock to stand out majestically among other appointees by Deacon Udom Emmanuel. And its is heartwarming that Prince Enobong Uwah, Dr. Val Attah like others have given their words to the political class that the commissioner at all times will enjoy political, brotherly affection and moral support from Uyo people. 

Given the political revival ushered in by Mr. Charles Udoh, Uyo people must shun gossip, blackmail and propaganda in their bid to warm their way into the heart of the commissioner, because according to experiences this are the problems that must be buried to move the collective interest of Uyo higher, and give everybody opportunity to benefit from the commissioners’ resolve to help develop the local government from his vintage position in the state executive council.

So in mixing politics and professionalism, Mr. Charles Udoh will with all assurance from his actions so far create a rewarding and effective synergy to blend the two roles for common good of Akwa Ibom State and Uyo in particular if he enjoys our goodwill, and tolerance from politicians as well as encouragement and professional support as media practitioners.