Abba-Kyari-Hushpuppi Saga: PR experts worry over Nigeria’s reputation ‘damage’
Public relations experts have expressed their views on the suspension of super cop, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari over his involvement with an internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.
Recalled that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, had linked Abba Kyari in the fraud case involving Hushpuppi, who is facing charges of internet fraud and money laundering in US.
But a cross section of Public Relations experts, have blamed the society, the media and the Nigeria Police Force for dragging the integrity of the force to the mud internationally.
At a session hosted by The School of Impactful Communication (TSIC) social media platform, an online gathering for PR & Marketing Communication experts and Scholars in Nigeria with theme “Crisis of Character: How not to manage Fame,” moderated by Ishola Ayodele, the award winning PR Expert and Author.
Dr Charles Oni, a renowned PR expert said that “with the reputation Kyari has built over the years, he shouldn’t have interacted with shadowy characters as Huspuppy. After all, people who live in glass houses have no business throwing stones.”
Mr. olaniran Emmanuel another PR practitioner harped on the distrust eroded with the Nigeria police Force citing the EndSARS crisis.
“It took few days more before suspending the embattled officer. Even at that, the Nigerian Police has always been known for its corrupt tendencies” said Emmanuel.
Similarly, Eniola Mayowa, a contributor, emphasized that the suspended officer had earlier been alleged before FBI indictment from Lagos Judicial Panel Post EndSARS.
Mayowa also caution the society for seeking PR support mainly during crisis saying “PR is not adhoc! There must be tangible deposits in your reservoir for PR to succeed in crisis situation”.
In her submission, Onize stephanie also a contributor stated that “the reputation of the Police Force in Nigeria is not in our good books, coupled with this Kyari’ s crisis again, it has made it even worse. On a contary, They are supposed to stand for dignity, integrity & trust. He has not only brought shame to the force here in Nigeria but to the whole world.
Also commenting on the same issue, Mr Yushau Shuaib of PRNigeria blamed DCP Kyari for hobnobbing with people of questionable integrity and posting pictures of such events on the social media media to ratchet up their social standing.
Yushau stated that “the media had developed interests in his exploits as a crime fighter, they allowed him or his media handlers to promote his efforts, rather than those of his team to the high heavens. This became one of his major Achilles heels” he said.
He also criticized the Institution saying “Instead of reprimanding and curtailing him, the command seemed to have gotten caught up in the cult of the celebrity of an individual, rather than the celebration of the team, adding that it’s officials were knocked in reputation mismanagement and the seductive adulation of the public spotlight”.
By Kabir ABDULSALAM
