The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has said that her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari is a toast of any woman, even as she said that at the time she got married to him in 1989 at the age of 18, the future seemed unsure.
In a book launched yesterday, April 8, titled ‘Aisha Buhari: Being Different’, the First Lady, however, said the marriage placed her on the path of greatness.
According to the book authored by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Daji Sani, the First Lady said her husband is the kind of man any woman would want to associate herself with.
“In many villages in northern Nigeria, educating a girl is not considered a priority. In fact, early marriage affects every eighth girl. According to UNICEF, one in seven girls is reported to give birth by age seventeen The easiest justification for this practice is that it serves as a strategy for reducing the burden on the family.
“It is also viewed as a way of protecting the sanctity of the girl-child. Another report shows that child marriage occurs more frequently among girls who are the least educated and poorest, and who are living in rural areas. The above scenario was the kind of social-cultural background that Aisha was born into and raised. Married at an early age, for her, the future seemed unsure.
“But the hope in her mind is massive. Interestingly, fate shone on her with the splendor of an enlightened gentleman. She married the kind of man any woman would want to associate herself with, a highly placed and responsible man. Even though this automatically placed her on the path of greatness, her family values have been the key influence in her life to this day.
“In 1989, the young lady, Aisha Halilu, got married to Muhammadu Buhari, a retired Major General and former military Head of State of Nigeria. Marriage as an institution moves at an undulating pace, full of uncertainties. The ability to surmount the challenges and move on to an unknown destination is crucial in marriage. Aisha, like any other girl-child married as a teenager, faced the challenges of adapting to womanhood.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has obtained court orders from the Federal High Court, Abuja, to freeze 194 bank accounts owned by Bureaux de Change firms and other organizations to enable it conduct investigations into suspicious foreign exchange dealings.
The document, which was signed by the Presiding Judge, A.R. Mohammed, empowered the CBN to direct almost all the banks operating in the country to freeze all the bank accounts for a period of 45 days only, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The court papers said: “The order may be extended upon good reasons shown. Any person aggrieved by this order could apply to the court to have the order set aside, discharged or have the order reviewed for good reasons without waiting for the 45 days to lapse.”
Some of the firms affected are Seasons Bureau De Change Limited, Sethwealth Ventures Limited, Sani Polo Global Investment Limited, Romvic Ventures Limited and Blue Beam Capital Limited among others.
The CBN had, Wednesday last week, got an order to freeze 11 bank accounts to enable it to conduct investigations into suspicious activities.
The order follows an exparte motion, dated March 12 and filed on March 16, seeking the mandatory order of the court to direct First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited to freeze all transactions on the listed accounts and all other bank accounts of the defendants for 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the CBN.
The new Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, has directed Police Strategic Commanders – Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police (Operations) to quickly restore normalcy to the South-South and South-Eastern States of the country.
At a meeting today, April 9 with the officers, stressed the need for the officers to critically diagnose the security threats in the region and evolve new policing strategies and responses towards tackling the threats.
The IGP, who said that the Southeast and South-South geo-political zones of the country are very critical in the socio-economic stability and growth of Nigeria, said that no intelligence, operational and administrative efforts should be spared in ensuring that the security challenges in the zones are surmounted.
He gave the order that to rejig the security architecture in their Areas of Responsibility and work with relevant stakeholders in restoring law and order.
He directed the Command Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to return to their Areas of Responsibility and implement resolutions reached, especially on intelligence-led and community-driven operational strategies, to ensure security of lives and property in the region.
Usman Baba called for the support of citizens, even as he gave assurance that the operational strategies would be within the framework of citizens’ consent, trust and the rule of law.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of the husband of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth of England, Prince Philip as end of an era.
Prince Phillip died peacefully today, April 9 at the age of 99.
Reacting to the death of the longest-serving Queen’s consort, President Buhari said: “the death of the Duke of Edinburgh is the end of an era.
“Prince Philip was one of the greatest and publicly recognizable international figures whose contributions to the Commonwealth will be remembered for generations to come.”
According to the President, Prince Philip was a great man in his own right who made enormous contributions to philanthropic activities and charities, especially for wildlife conservation and youth development programmes in more than 130 countries.
President Buhari pays tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh as “a remarkable husband who had been happily married to the Queen since 1947,” saying: “this is an impressive record for any marriage at any level.”
The President also commiserates with the Government of the United Kingdom, members of the Commonwealth “for the sad loss of this royal and indeed global icon.”
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has restated its commitment to the partnership with the Government of Kebbi State for the production of biofuels, describing the project as viable and in tandem with the global transition to renewable energy.
The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed this while receiving the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office today, April 8.
He said that the rice production programme in the state was a definite boost to the biofuels project, adding that the linkage of the agricultural sector with the energy sector would facilitate economic growth and bring prosperity to the citizens.
“We will go ahead and renew the Memorandum of Understanding and bring in any necessary amendment that is required to make this business run faster,” the GMD said.
Mallam Kyari also hinted of plans for the Corporation to resume active exploration activities in the Sokoto Basin.
Earlier in his remarks, the Kebbi State Governor expressed appreciation to the NNPC for its cooperation on the biofuel project.
He said the cassava programme was well on course but the same cannot be said of the sugarcane programme as the targeted milestone was yet to be attained.
Governor Bagudu assured the GMD of his commitment to the success of the project.
Kebbi state is one of the states the Corporation is in partnership with for the development of renewable energy.
Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC (DSR) has protested against an online publication claiming that it is engaging in price-fixing and that it is not honestly engaged in any Backward Integration Programme as claimed.
Reacting to the allegation, the Group Managing Director, Ravindra Singhvi, said that described it as a move towards tarnishing the good name and brand of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and Dangote Industries Limited.
“DSR does not engage in artificial price manipulation of its products, either during the Holy month of Ramadan or at any other time. We have never ever increased price of our food items or commodities during the Holy month of Ramadan in the history of our operations.”
He said that the Company is socially responsible and considers price-fixing to be unethical.
‘Such allegation is highly mischievous and a calculated attempt to smear the reputation of DSR. DSR can only sadly conclude that the online publication is mischievous and geared at creating some form of undue advantage to some Industry players.”
He said that the company began its Backward Integration Programme (BIP) with a 10-year sugar development plan, to produce 1.5 million MT per annum of sugar from locally grown sugarcane. The Project commenced with acquisition of large expanse of land in strategic locations such as Taraba State, Adamawa State and Nasarawa State. To this end, three (3) BIP sugar companies; Dangote Taraba Sugar Limited, Dangote Adamawa Sugar Limited, Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited were incorporated.
The Company had commenced rehabilitation and expansion of its Sugar Factory at Numan. Sugarcane planting has also commenced in the two other BIP locations.
DSR has a responsibility to the Government, the good people of Nigeria and the Sugar Industry and all other stakeholders to protect the integrity of the Sugar industry and wishes to assure its stakeholders as follows: It will do all that is necessary to vehemently protect the integrity of the Sugar Industry, it is not engaged in price fixing and it encourages healthy competition amongst the players.
DSR highlighted a matter (BUA’s) operation of a Sugar refinery in the Free Trade Zone in Port Harcourt, exporting refined sugar into the Custom territory) which may circumvent the National Sugar Master Plan’s (NSMP) framework and jeopardize its objectives by taking advantage of the location of its Port-Harcourt Refinery in the Free Trade Zone. DSR made this notification to the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade & Investments bona fide, via its letter to the Minister dated January 28, 2021 asking the Minister to investigate the matter.
“We believe our action is in line with our responsibility as a major stakeholder to alert the supervising Ministry on activities that would derail the plan of the Federal Government in its drive to self -sufficiency in Sugar under the NSMP.”
The Academic Board of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja has approved the expulsion of four students over issues bordering on examination misconduct, suspected cultism and other social vices.
According to a statement by the institution’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Uredo Omale, today, April 8, the expulsion of the students was part of far-reaching decisions made at the Board’s meeting held at the institution’s Main Campus in Lokoja.
The students expelled for examination malpractice include Aliu Abdulrahman, an ND I student of Science and Laboratory Technology (2019/ND/SLT/216), Shaibu Danjuma (HND I), Graphic Department (2018/HND/IDD/011) and Hadiza Abubakar (2018/HND/CPS/183), an HND II student of Computer Science Department.
Another student, Abudulmalik Wahab of the Mechanical Engineering Department (2018/ND/ME/043 was also expelled and with an added clause of never to be offered admission into the institution, for being in possession of a dangerous weapon and evidence of involvement in cultism.
Durojaiye Helen Taiye, an HND II student of Industrial Design (2018/HND/IDD/007) was found with extraneous materials not related to the particular examination inscribed on her palms and was rusticated for one semester.
The Board, Chaired by the Rector, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, also approved the First Semester result for the 2019/2020 Academic Session.
The Rector, who appreciated the committees on examination misconduct for the thorough job done, said the Polytechnic would not condone any act capable of bringing it to disrepute.
He appealed to students to always be on the side of the law.
He also expressed satisfaction with the successful end of the Computer Based Examinations for General Studies Courses just as he commended the committee on E-Examination for a job well done.
Dr Usman further explained that the postponement of the SUG Elections, Students’ Week and NAKOSS elections till the next session was part of plans to ensure adequate security of lives and properties on campus.
Branding is propaganda, Marketing is propaganda and Public Relations is propaganda.
In other words, propaganda is a nuetral concept that can be used either for good or for bad.
The concept of propaganda has been used to advance the greatest course of humanity, it has also been used to advance its cruelest.
Propaganda was used to set Africa free from colonialism, it was also used to pitch it against each other in war.
Propaganda was used to de-market African spiritualism, it was also used to elevate African nationalism.
If you see an African wearing suit during hot whether, that’s because of propaganda.
If you read that Mungo Park discovered River Niger, that’s the work of propaganda.
People around the world bear names they don’t know its meaning as a result of propaganda.
Hundreds of thousands of people troop to Israel and Jerusalem every year because of propaganda and we have billions of people, who don’t believe their creator will listen to their prayers if done in their own language, but would only grant their request, if done in the name of someone else.
So, propaganda is not just about politics, it is much more.
In recent times, none state actors across Nigeria, have intensified their propaganda against the state and because of state’s insensitivity towards such matters, it is gradually loosing its grape on the nation.
Every nation of worth knows that national security begins with protecting and shaping the minds of the citizens.
If you loose the information warfare, you will loose your personal security, loose your national security, loose your territorial integrity and loose your national sovereignty.
This is why the Chinese government is in firm grip of flow of information in its country and the US government, which allows free flow of information is always ahead in information dessimination.
While dominant narratives in recent time have limited the use of propaganda to the media, the truth of the matter is that, propaganda is beyond the tool of the media.
Family, tribes, religion etc all make use of propaganda to advance their ideals.
Ofcourse, propaganda is also a tool of the media, but media is just a tiny fraction of sectors that utilize propaganda. Long before media industry came into existence as a formal professional, propaganda has been a tool for religious propagation.
Christian crusade and Islamic da’awah have the two most creative propaganda instrument in the world.
However, even before the establishment of modern religion such as Islam and Christianity, propaganda had long been a tool for tribal and communal advancement.
To say it differently, propaganda is part and parcel of human nature as a community and it cannot be extricated.
Parents use propaganda in managing their homes and to teach their children. Families and ethnicity use propaganda to advance their family and ethnic philosophy. Religion also use it to advance its spiritual crusade.
That’s why propaganda is defined as the spreading of ideas, information, or rumour for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.
For propaganda, it’s not important whether the information is true or false. What is important is that the propaganda material can advance the motive of its purveyor.
Sometimes, a propaganda content might be true, other times, they may be untrue. Sometimes, they maybe in context, other times, out of context.
Historically, from the 1790s, the term began being used also to refer for propaganda in secular activities, taking a pejorative or negative connotation in the mid-19th century, when it was used in the political sphere.
It is on record that In the beginning of its political utilisation, propaganda is often associated with material prepared by governments, but activist groups, companies, religious organisations and the media can also produce propaganda material to advance their interest. In the twentieth century, the term propaganda has often been associated with a manipulative approach, but propaganda historically was a neutral descriptive term.
The first large-scale and organised propagation of government propaganda was occasioned by the outbreak of war in 1914.
After the defeat of Germany in the First World War, military officials such as Erich Ludendorff suggested that British propaganda had been instrumental in their defeat. Adolf Hitler came to echo this view, believing that it had been a primary cause of the collapse of morale and the revolts in the German home front and Navy in 1918.
In Mein Kampf (1925) Hitler expounded his theory of propaganda, which provided a powerful base for his rise to power in 1933.
Historian Robert Ensor explains that “Hitler…puts no limit on what can be done by propaganda; people will believe anything, provided they are told it often enough and emphatically enough, and that contradicters are either silenced or smothered in calumny.” Most propaganda in Nazi Germany was produced by the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Joseph Goebbels. World War II saw continued use of propaganda as a weapon of war, building on the experience of WWI, by Goebbels and the British Political Warfare Executive, as well as the United States Office of War Information.
In the years following the October Revolution of 1917, the Soviet government sponsored the Russian film industry with the purpose of making propaganda films (e.g. the 1925 film The Battleship Potemkin glorifies Communist ideals.)
The 1930s and 1940s, which saw the rise of totalitarian states and the Second World War, are arguably the “Golden Age of Propaganda”. Leni Riefenstahl, a filmmaker working in Nazi Germany, created one of the best-known propaganda movies, Triumph of the Will.
In the US, animation became popular, especially for winning over youthful audiences and aiding the US war effort, e.g.,Der Fuehrer’s Face (1942), which ridicules Hitler and advocates the value of freedom.
US war films in the early 1940s were designed to create a patriotic mindset and convince viewers that sacrifices needed to be made to defeat the Axis Powers. The West and the Soviet Union both used propaganda extensively during the Cold War. Both sides used film, television, and radio programming to influence their own citizens, each other, and Third World nations.
George Orwell’s novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four are virtual textbooks on the use of propaganda.
During the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro stressed the importance of propaganda. It was also used extensively by Communist forces in the Vietnam War as means of controlling people’s opinions.
In pre-independent Africa, African movements made use of propaganda to advance their struggle against colonialism, but just as they used propaganda against the colonial governments, regions and tribes within Africa were also using propaganda within and against each other to advance their respective tribal interest.
The propagandist seeks to change the way people understand an issue or situation for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group.
In Nigeria of today, a careful observation of the information pattern tells us that none state actors are making significant headway in their propaganda against the state and the government is not paying serious attention. This account for the growing insecurity and dissent against the nation by its citizens.
It is therefore important that government and its institutions, aswell as all citizens of conscience re-evaluate their communication to shape the direction of the nation.
Vice Presideent Yemi Osinbajo has described the views of the first Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari since her husband became President, as forthright, crisp, truthful “and every once in a while, controversial.”
Speaking today, April 8, at the official launching of a biography of the First Lady in Abuja, Professor Osinbajo said: “she has established an ongoing conversation with the Nigerian people on the issues that concern them most, issues that concern us the most: good governance, security, putting food on the table, education of our children, prompt payment of pensions to army veterans, and drug abuse, violation and victimization of women. “She airs her own personal struggles, her annoyance, in a manner probably unprecedented in the role of First Lady anywhere. “There is no question that Aisha Buhari is different; her difference has been empowering for the Nigerian people and there is never any question that her comments come from a good place, a place of genuine love and respect for the Nigerian people and our several concerns.” According to the Vice President, the book is a “detailed and sensitive chronicle of her childhood years and her growth as a woman, wife and mother. “It “it also highlights her evolution from a silent supporter of her husband’s political adventures to an active mobilizer and campaigner that played a major role in selling him to the Nigerian electorate. Then we also read in the book, how as First Lady, she founded the “Future Assured” initiative, promoting the welfare of women, youth and children, driven by the Aisha Buhari Foundation.” Te Vice President highlighted the influence of the First Lady’s role as a doting wife, mother and advocate for girl child education, as well as the impact of her Future Assured initiative, which he stated was inspired by the First Lady’s “conviction that empowering women is a direct way of promoting the economic and social progress of a nation. “We are also given a good picture of this steadfast advocate of women’s health issues, who has championed improved access to healthcare for women, especially in respect of maternal health with the aim of reducing maternal mortality, particularly in rural communities. “We understand the roots of her relentless pursuit in these past years of the empowerment of women, especially through education, the need for young girls to get primary and secondary school education before getting married. We understand her stand that no girl should get married before the age of 17. It is from her own experience being married at 19, and her single-mindedness and determination in ensuring that her educational pursuits were not aborted by her obligations as a wife and mother. “We also get a glimpse of the role she considers primary, being “Mum-in-Chief” to Halima, Yusuf, Zara, Hanan, Chuchu, and now many grandchildren. Her personal attention to the lives of each of her children, and her fierce protection of their privacy and individuality is a lesson in bringing up children under the scrutiny of a sometimes mischievous social media.” Vice President Osinbajo commended the author, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, Dr. Hajo Sani, for writing “a most engaging book on an incredibly fascinating person, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari, Nigeria’s First Lady, and seeking “to document the practical work she has done in the past five years. “It is unlikely that any First Lady in Nigeria’s history has in a few years captured the imagination of Nigerians as profoundly as Aisha Buhari. She is, of course, the first First Lady to be on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms, getting her unfiltered views across to the Nigerian people and she’s probably the first to receive in real-time, the opinions of Nigerians on her views.” According to the VP, the book on the First Lady has etched her name and the impact of her good works on the sands of history. “Perhaps because of the undefined nature of their positions, it was (former US First Lady) Michelle Obama who famously said that there is no handbook on how to be a First Lady, and the sometimes uncertain impact of their roles on the affairs of state, First Ladies quickly fade into obscurity when the curtains of time are drawn on the tenure of the administration of their husbands. “But it is unlikely that Aisha Buhari would ever be forgotten and even if there was a chance of this happening, this well written attempt to document her life, times and contributions as First Lady to national life through the causes that she has taken up, removes that possibility.”
The Nigerian army have killed two top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and scores of fighters in Borno in a major offensive. The two commanders of the terror group, Amir Abu-Rabi and Mohamed Likita were killed along with dozens of their bodyguards and fighters.
Reports coming in said that while Abu-Rabi coordinated tax collection on behalf of the ISWAP in the Lake Chad axis, Likita was among controllers coordinating attacks on military formations.
The aerial assault that took them out was targeted at three major ISWAP hideouts at Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala and Arijallamari in Abadam Local Government Areas.
The airstrikes were coordinated by the Air Task Force of the counter-terrorism operation, Operation Lafiya Dole.
A military intelligence officer said that Kusuma is a coordinating base of the ISWAP leaders, Sigir and Arijallamari were training camps for terrorists.
“The attacked locations, especially Kusuma and Sigir were notorious havens used by ISWAP for coordination and training of fighters on preemptive attacks on military positions and civilian areas.
“Recent attacks at Damasak, Malam Fatori, Monguno, Dikwa and Marte axis were coordinated from the locations. The bombardments have pushed the surviving and wounded terrorists to Jibularam and Sabon Tumbu riverbank areas.”
In another operation, Nigerian troops and Civilian JTF operatives ambushed terrorists at the Gubio-Magumeri axis.
They set a trap at Kareram village after intelligence of insurgents advancing from Malam Yaumari Village for an attack.
Some of the terrorists were killed, others escaped with injuries. Items recovered included sophisticated weapons and motorcycles.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has said that her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari is a toast of any woman, even as she said that at the time she got married to him in 1989 at the age of 18, the future seemed unsure.
The new Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, has directed Police Strategic Commanders – Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police (Operations) to quickly restore normalcy to the South-South and South-Eastern States of the country.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has restated its commitment to the partnership with the Government of Kebbi State for the production of biofuels, describing the project as viable and in tandem with the global transition to renewable energy.
The Academic Board of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja has approved the expulsion of four students over issues bordering on examination misconduct, suspected cultism and other social vices.
Vice Presideent Yemi Osinbajo has described the views of the first Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari since her husband became President, as forthright, crisp, truthful “and every once in a while, controversial.”
The Nigerian army have killed two top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and scores of fighters in Borno in a major offensive. The two commanders of the terror group, Amir Abu-Rabi and Mohamed Likita were killed along with dozens of their bodyguards and fighters.
Propaganda Of None State Actors, By Abdulrazaq Hamzat
In other words, propaganda is a nuetral concept that can be used either for good or for bad.
The concept of propaganda has been used to advance the greatest course of humanity, it has also been used to advance its cruelest.
Propaganda was used to set Africa free from colonialism, it was also used to pitch it against each other in war.
Propaganda was used to de-market African spiritualism, it was also used to elevate African nationalism.
If you see an African wearing suit during hot whether, that’s because of propaganda.
If you read that Mungo Park discovered River Niger, that’s the work of propaganda.
People around the world bear names they don’t know its meaning as a result of propaganda.
Hundreds of thousands of people troop to Israel and Jerusalem every year because of propaganda and we have billions of people, who don’t believe their creator will listen to their prayers if done in their own language, but would only grant their request, if done in the name of someone else.
So, propaganda is not just about politics, it is much more.
In recent times, none state actors across Nigeria, have intensified their propaganda against the state and because of state’s insensitivity towards such matters, it is gradually loosing its grape on the nation.
Every nation of worth knows that national security begins with protecting and shaping the minds of the citizens.
If you loose the information warfare, you will loose your personal security, loose your national security, loose your territorial integrity and loose your national sovereignty.
This is why the Chinese government is in firm grip of flow of information in its country and the US government, which allows free flow of information is always ahead in information dessimination.
While dominant narratives in recent time have limited the use of propaganda to the media, the truth of the matter is that, propaganda is beyond the tool of the media.
Family, tribes, religion etc all make use of propaganda to advance their ideals.
Ofcourse, propaganda is also a tool of the media, but media is just a tiny fraction of sectors that utilize propaganda. Long before media industry came into existence as a formal professional, propaganda has been a tool for religious propagation.
Christian crusade and Islamic da’awah have the two most creative propaganda instrument in the world.
However, even before the establishment of modern religion such as Islam and Christianity, propaganda had long been a tool for tribal and communal advancement.
To say it differently, propaganda is part and parcel of human nature as a community and it cannot be extricated.
Parents use propaganda in managing their homes and to teach their children. Families and ethnicity use propaganda to advance their family and ethnic philosophy. Religion also use it to advance its spiritual crusade.
That’s why propaganda is defined as the spreading of ideas, information, or rumour for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.
For propaganda, it’s not important whether the information is true or false. What is important is that the propaganda material can advance the motive of its purveyor.
Sometimes, a propaganda content might be true, other times, they may be untrue. Sometimes, they maybe in context, other times, out of context.
Historically, from the 1790s, the term began being used also to refer for propaganda in secular activities, taking a pejorative or negative connotation in the mid-19th century, when it was used in the political sphere.
It is on record that In the beginning of its political utilisation, propaganda is often associated with material prepared by governments, but activist groups, companies, religious organisations and the media can also produce propaganda material to advance their interest. In the twentieth century, the term propaganda has often been associated with a manipulative approach, but propaganda historically was a neutral descriptive term.
The first large-scale and organised propagation of government propaganda was occasioned by the outbreak of war in 1914.
After the defeat of Germany in the First World War, military officials such as Erich Ludendorff suggested that British propaganda had been instrumental in their defeat. Adolf Hitler came to echo this view, believing that it had been a primary cause of the collapse of morale and the revolts in the German home front and Navy in 1918.
In Mein Kampf (1925) Hitler expounded his theory of propaganda, which provided a powerful base for his rise to power in 1933.
Historian Robert Ensor explains that “Hitler…puts no limit on what can be done by propaganda; people will believe anything, provided they are told it often enough and emphatically enough, and that contradicters are either silenced or smothered in calumny.” Most propaganda in Nazi Germany was produced by the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Joseph Goebbels. World War II saw continued use of propaganda as a weapon of war, building on the experience of WWI, by Goebbels and the British Political Warfare Executive, as well as the United States Office of War Information.
In the years following the October Revolution of 1917, the Soviet government sponsored the Russian film industry with the purpose of making propaganda films (e.g. the 1925 film The Battleship Potemkin glorifies Communist ideals.)
The 1930s and 1940s, which saw the rise of totalitarian states and the Second World War, are arguably the “Golden Age of Propaganda”. Leni Riefenstahl, a filmmaker working in Nazi Germany, created one of the best-known propaganda movies, Triumph of the Will.
In the US, animation became popular, especially for winning over youthful audiences and aiding the US war effort, e.g.,Der Fuehrer’s Face (1942), which ridicules Hitler and advocates the value of freedom.
US war films in the early 1940s were designed to create a patriotic mindset and convince viewers that sacrifices needed to be made to defeat the Axis Powers. The West and the Soviet Union both used propaganda extensively during the Cold War. Both sides used film, television, and radio programming to influence their own citizens, each other, and Third World nations.
George Orwell’s novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four are virtual textbooks on the use of propaganda.
During the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro stressed the importance of propaganda. It was also used extensively by Communist forces in the Vietnam War as means of controlling people’s opinions.
In pre-independent Africa, African movements made use of propaganda to advance their struggle against colonialism, but just as they used propaganda against the colonial governments, regions and tribes within Africa were also using propaganda within and against each other to advance their respective tribal interest.
The propagandist seeks to change the way people understand an issue or situation for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group.
In Nigeria of today, a careful observation of the information pattern tells us that none state actors are making significant headway in their propaganda against the state and the government is not paying serious attention. This account for the growing insecurity and dissent against the nation by its citizens.
It is therefore important that government and its institutions, aswell as all citizens of conscience re-evaluate their communication to shape the direction of the nation.
*Abdulrazaq Hamzat can be reached at discus4now@gmail.com