Trial times at Lagos NIPR chapter

The current issue at the Lagos Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) is complex. It has become intricate because of the way it has played out. In fact, if what is happening currently at the Institute plays up at the national political level, Nigerians would regard it as high level calculation and political rigging.

In July, 2015, the Institute had conducted elections into various positions, to elect new executives that would direct the affairs of the institute considered strategic in the body polity of the national NIPR. The exercise, which produced Joseph Okonmah as second term chairman against his opponent, Kunle Ogedengbe, was largely considered free and fair.

But surprisingly, the elections were cancelled by the parent body of NIPR due to what the national body considered as errors leading to the elections. Among other reasons adduced, the NIPR had cited the late submission of the audited report of the chapter before the elections as stipulated by law governing elections in NIPR. True, but if Goodluck Jonathan had cited underage voting and other slips  in some parts of Nigeria during the last presidential elections, he would not have handed over, especially in the face of general consensus that his opponent has won the election.

With the cancellation of the elections and since the former executive council has been dissolved, a caretaker committee headed by Olusola Niyi, a cleric, was set up to oversee the activities of the NIPR Lagos until another election was conducted.

Observers have since wondered whether the entire annual general meeting of the Institute for that year was also cancelled since there was error in the process leading to the AGM which the elections were part of. It has also kept many wondering why the national body singled out the elections for annulment, when the process leading to the entire AGM was also faulty.

Amidst bickering in the institute over the cancellation, a development which was acknowledged by some members, the re-election into executive positions was fortunately and agreeably fixed for last month, February 25, 2016.

The re-election was again postponed for this month, March 10, 2016 for what industry operators attributed to as buying time to calm nerves in the institute or for the candidates to deepen their campaigns.

But the re-election is seeing new developments as Kunle Ogedengbe is not re-contesting for the chairmanship position but Olusola Niyi, who has tested power as the caretaker committee chairman and Segun McMedal, the  chief reputation strategist at Upticomm, who was the chairman of  the 2015 AGM committee, have signified their interest to contest against Okonmah, the managing director of Jasek Communications Limited, an integrated marketing communication firm who has promised to strengthen his first term achievements if re-elected.

While the development could be seen as democracy in action, one wonders, however, the nature of criticism and commentary that would trail this type of arrangement if it played up at the national political level, especially when the initial contestant did not eventually win the re-election.

McMedal, who was the organising committee chairman for the AGM, has absolved himself of complicities leading to the cancellation of the elections, maintaining that his job was to organise the AGM.

The Opticomm strategist has since recognised divisions in the chapter after the last elections were annulled. He, however, promised to evolve mechanisms to reconcile members and develop initiatives to reposition the chapter’s image and reputation if elected. What this means is that he would need to develop enough muscles to tackle the various issues and feelings that would arise if he eventually wins the March 10 elections.

He recognises that “the journey will, no doubt, be tough, but it can be done.”

According to him, “When the time comes, I urge members to vote for action, not politics as usual. And together with their help and God’s grace we will continue our journey forward and remind others that the Chapter is the flagship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations”.

Okonmah, a lawyer with deep communication experience, in a report believes he needs second chance to further the activities he started in his first term and further consolidates the enviable status the Lagos NIPR had attained over the years.

The national body of NIPR recognises the forte of the Lagos Chapter and is interested in its affairs as it is the chapter that produced Rotimi Oladele, the national president of NIPR. Will the body reach a truce between Okonmah, McMedal and Niyi before the March 10 elections?

A PR operator says a house divided against itself will not stand and thinks that any understanding will be important for the Lagos Chapter to continue to maintain its strong relevance in the industry. The practitioner, who craved anonymity, said: “If not, whoever that is declared winner by the John Agim-led electoral committee chairman will likely focus more on uniting and creating peace within his two term tenure than being involved in developmental projects. And this would probably not augur well for the organization as the body needs peace as well as developmental projects to push forward.

Daniel Obi