POLITICS:THE EXCERPT OF THE INTERACTIVE SESSION OF PDP PUBLICITY SECRETARIES/SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEERS ORGANISED BY THE OYO STATE PDP PUBLICITY SECRETARY, ENGINEER AKEEM OLATUNJI, HELD ON THE 18TH APRIL, 2019 AT THE PDP SECRETARIAT, MOLETE, IBADAN.

The meeting was called to order by Mr Adeniyi Rotimi Johnson.

Encomiums were poured on the Peoples Democratic Party Local Governments’ Public Relations Officers and Social Media Volunteers. 

ENGR AKEEM OLATUNJI’S OPENING REMARKS

He welcomed the attendees to the meeting and congratulated the party's supporters in attendance on the last governorship election that Engr Seyi Makinde won resoundingly. He said the government of Engr Seyi Makinde will make use of the  media to drive its programmes and actions starting from May 29, 2019. He pointed out that seventy percent of media messages will the promotion of the  achievements of the governor-elect He added that the remaining 30% will be on neutralizing the attacks from the opposition.

He pointed out that it is necessary to read the body language of our leaders before posting on social media platforms.
He, further, stressed the importance of the use of indigenous language in the dissemination of government’s information to the public.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY RT. HONOURABLE KEHINDE AYOOLA

He lauded the publicity personnel of the party for their immense contributions to the party’s success during the 2019 general elections.

He identified the fact that without publicity, organisations could not grow and that organisations devise strategies towards creating mutual understanding between them and their various publics.

He stressed the importance of the involvement of the Publicity Secretaries of the party at the grasroots, even, to the level of Ward PROs.

On information managements and dissemination, Hon. Ayoola enjoined the Publicity secretaries to ensure that the information they put out must be true and accurate. He stressed the need to be objective and timely. He advised the image makers to break news that are not in doubt. On the language of communication, Hon Ayoola advised the Image makers of the party to make use of the language they are most comfortable at speaking. He noted that grammatical blunders in our media messages will tarnish the Image of the party, adding that Yoruba language is not inferior to any other language. He also charged the attendees to improve in all areas of human endeavours. He enjoined the image makers to be well read and to seek knowledge, thereby making them to know something about everything.

He highlighted the instruments of image management to be Radio, Television, Newspapers, and the newly powerful social media.

On governance, Hon. Ayoola identified basic amenities, good jobs, accommodation, hospitals and health care, roads, security, etc. as basic needs of the people. He advised the image makers to constantly publish information that will touch on the various need of the citizens. He said he would advise that the government of Engr Seyi Makinde to map out strategies that will help empower the party workers. He cited the example of the PSP Waste Management programme to take care of the welfare of party faithful and loyalist in Lagos State.

He added that social media activism had benefited him personally and he could testify to that.
Hon Ayoola promised to advise to develop a programme that will reward the Publicity Secretaries and the Social Media Volunteers.

ADDRESS BY MAMA MUKESO

She thanked God for fighting the PDP’s battle in the last election. She specifically pointed that Engr Seyi Makinde’s victory was as a result of the hard work and determination cum commitment of the youths of the party.

She said that the party’s actions and preparedness towards the last election should be in continuum because the government of Seyi Makinde will run for eight years.

In this light, she pointed out the need to keep old friends with which  worked for the success of the party.

ADDRESS BY HON MOROHUNFOLU BANUSO, Chairman of LG Chairmen.

He expressed confidence that God loves us in the PDP. He saluted the youths’ doggedness in standing by the party through the thick and thin. He termed the attendees and youths of the party as successful people.

He saluted the contribution of the social media volunteers of the party as good image makers who
worked assiduously for the party’s victory. He charged the image makers of the party to forge ahead in their discharge of duties even as 2023 is around the corner. He called on the attendees to carry the good image of the party and Engr Seyi Makinde’s government. He maintained that Seyi Makinde became the Governor-elect of the state due to a negative referendum on Senator Ajimobi and his cohorts.

DECISIONS TAKEN

1. That proposals and ideas that could help the next government should be welcomed by Engr Seyi Makinde.

2. Programmes that will empower the Publicity Secretaries and social media volunteers should be adequately funded by the Engr Seyi Makinde’s government.

3. That Engr Makinde should resuscitate the moribund companies in the state up efforts to create jobs for the teeming youths of Oyo state.

4. That the meetings of the Publicity Secretaries and Social Media Activists be continuously organised.

5. To keep sanitising our social  media platforms with a view to avoiding duplications. It was added that we could always send our posts to the admin of various groups so that they (the Admin) could screen before disseminating the stories to the groups.

6. To screen the members of our social media groups and remove those who are not active.

7. That Engr Seyi Makinde should give more recognition to the image makers and  social media volunteers.

8. That party loyalists must inform the leadership quickly about incidents so that we will not suffer. Also, that information should reach appropriate quarters in case of emergencies and security challenges.

9. That all of us can not have political appointments but that benefits can go round every member who has worked for the success of the party.

10. It was agreed that there should be ONLY ONE WhatsApp group to be coordinated by Engr Akeem Olatunji.

11. That volunteers should intensify efforts by constantly promoting the party and posting about the programmes and policies of the Engr Seyi Makinde starting from May 29, 2019.

12. That those who worked for the PDP and who have not identified with the party as members should do so without delay.


SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATENDANCE

Special guests were:

Chief Mrs Mukeso

Hon Morohunfolu Banuso, the PDP Chairman of LG Chairmen in Oyo state

Rt. Hon. Kehide Ayoola, former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly

Alh Wasiu Adeleke, Oyo State PDP Secretary, ably represented by Pastor Popoola, Oyo State PDP Assistant Organising Secretary

Hon. Adeniyi Rotimi Johnson

Hon. Sakiru Ojo, Representatives of Chief Bisi Ilaka.

Eighty nine (89)  other participants from the thirty three local governments of Oyo state were in attendance.

ABSENTEE:
The State Chairman, Alh Kunmi Mustapha, was unavoidably absent due to a very cogent reason.