Arc Nya-Etok:I have been here before: Lessons from the Past

There are moments in public life that leave an indelible mark on one’s thinking. They become reference points against which future events are measured. For me, one such moment occurred during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

As the 2015 elections approached, a single narrative had come to dominate public discourse: President Jonathan was “clueless.” The word had become so pervasive that, to many Nigerians, it was no longer an allegation but an accepted fact. Regardless of whatever successes his administration recorded, they were
buried beneath a mountain of negative perception. Such is the power of political communication.

In politics, perception often outruns reality. It was against this backdrop that I found myself at an international media engagement in Lagos. The gathering was deliberately exclusive. Representatives of CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Voice of America and other leading international media organisations were present, alongside Editors of Nigeria’s major print and electronic media, as well as some of the country’s foremost social media influencers. Fewer than thirty people were in the room. The event was to be addressed by two very senior figures from both the Presidency and the
ruling party. Unexpectedly, an urgent development from Abuja required both men to leave immediately before proceedings commenced. The lead official looked in my direction, tapped me on the shoulder and simply said, “You can handle this.” I had not expected it. Although I had considerable media experience, this was a different stage
altogether. Nevertheless, there was little room for hesitation. I stepped into the meeting room of eagerly waiting media dons who were expecting that my
presence was to announce the entrance of the main hosts. I began by apologising for the unforeseen circumstances and explaining why the scheduled
speakers could no longer be present.

The disappointment in the room was unmistakable. Some of those present wondered whether it was worth remaining. Others looked visibly
unconvinced that someone they had not come to hear could sustain a discussion of such importance. I knew that if I failed to capture their attention within the first few minutes, the meeting was effectively over. By God’s grace, I was thoroughly familiar with the programmes and policies of the administration.

Through my interactions with senior government officials, including the then
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, I understood both the thinking behind many government decisions and the challenges confronting the administration. Rather than becoming defensive, I sought to explain the context within which President
Jonathan governed—the political realities, the institutional constraints, and the strategic considerations that often made leadership far more complex than public commentary suggested. Gradually, the atmosphere changed. Phones were put away. People leaned forward. Questions became deeper.

For almost 2 hours, the conversation flowed with unusual intensity. At the end, several participants remarked that they wished these explanations had been presented much earlier. One even suggested that many of the negative perceptions would never have taken root had government communicated more effectively. I accepted my own share of responsibility. Our communication had failed. That experience has never left me.

Today, I find myself watching another administration, where I play a major active role, face a remarkably similar challenge. Once again, political narratives are competing for the minds of Nigerians.

The opposition has, understandably, adopted a simple but emotionally compelling message:“The people are hungry.”No slogan could resonate more powerfully. And to dismiss it outright would be both politically unwise and morally insensitive.

The reality is that many Nigerians are indeed facing genuine economic hardship.Food prices remain high.
Families are struggling. Businesses continue to battle rising operating costs.
These are realities that cannot—and should not—be denied. BUT acknowledging hardship is not the same as concluding that nothing is being achieved.

Leadership sometimes requires taking decisions whose immediate consequences are painful but whose long-term benefits are necessary.

For years, successive governments postponed difficult economic reforms because of their political cost. Fuel subsidy remained despite its enormous fiscal burden. Exchange-rate distortions persisted. Structural imbalances deepened.

With the current President, those decisions could no longer be deferred.
Why would the man that is credited with being one of the most politically savvy Nigerian politicians dead of alive, not ‘jump and pass’ like others did? This question will be interrogated with time! Whether one agrees with every policy or not, the present administration chose to confront several of these longstanding challenges rather than leave them for another government. That choice came with consequences.
The immediate impact has been painful.
But there is another side to the story that is often insufficiently explained.

Many economists have argued that several key macroeconomic indicators have shown signs of greater stability than before. Yet macroeconomic improvement means little to the average Nigerian if it has not translated into relief at the household level. This is precisely where communication becomes critical.

Imagine a patient requiring delicate eye surgery. The surgeon first insists on stabilising dangerously high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes before proceeding.
During that period, the patient is still unable to see.

Without explanation, the patient might conclude that nothing is happening.
With explanation, however, the patient understands that the delay is itself part of the treatment. The temporary discomfort acquires meaning because it is connected to hope.

In many respects, this is the communication challenge before government today. The conversation should never begin by telling hungry people that they are not hungry. It should begin by acknowledging their pain. It should explain honestly why difficult decisions became necessary. It should demonstrate, with evidence rather than slogans, how those decisions are expected to improve everyday life. People can endure hardship when they believe there is a destination. Hope has always been one of humanity’s greatest sources of resilience.

History repeatedly shows that people are willing to sacrifice when they trust both the purpose and the leadership behind that sacrifice. This is why I believe that we the supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu -starting with myself-, must resist the temptation to respond to every criticism with confrontation. Facts matter.

But empathy matters just as much.
Instead of arguing with citizens about whether they are suffering, we should first acknowledge that they are.Then we should patiently explain what has been done, why it was necessary, what progress has already been made, and how that progress is expected to affect their daily lives.

Communication without empathy sounds like propaganda. Empathy without facts creates despair. Leadership requires both. There are tangible developments that deserve to be better communicated—greater fiscal discipline, more regular salary and pension payments in many parts of the federation, expanded student loan opportunities, ongoing infrastructure investments, and continuing efforts to improve national security. These achievements should not be exaggerated, nor should they be ignored. They should be presented honestly, with supporting evidence, while recognising that many Nigerians are still waiting to feel their full impact.

Perhaps the greatest mistake any government can make is to assume that good policies speak for themselves. They do not.Policies require explanation. Reforms require patience. Patience requires hope. And hope grows where communication is honest, compassionate and credible. The opposition will continue to emphasise hardship. That is both natural and legitimate in a democracy.

The responsibility of those who support government is different. It is not to dismiss the people’s pain. It is not to attack every critic. It is not to substitute slogans for substance. Rather, it is to communicate with knowledge, humility, emotional intelligence and respect for
the intelligence of Nigerians.

More than seventy per cent of Nigerians are neither committed supporters of government nor committed members of the opposition. They simply want to know whether the country is moving in the right direction.
They are the audience that matters most.
I have been here before. I have witnessed an administration undertake significant initiatives that were overshadowed by poor communication.

I have seen perception overwhelm reality. I have also learnt that effective communication cannot erase hardship, but it can preserve hope. And when hope is preserved, nations find the strength to persevere until reforms begin to bear fruit.

That is the lesson history has taught me.
It is also the lesson I believe we should not ignore today.
Shalom!

Arc NYA-ETOK Ezekiel.
(An appointed of Mr President).