| How I manage Gov. Shekarau’s
image
- Sule Ya’u Sule, Director of Press Affairs
By Ibrahim Barde, Kano
Monday July 19, 2004
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Sule
Ya’u Sule
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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He is the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Gov Ibrahim
Shekarau of Kano State. His name is Alhaji Sule Ya’u
Sule, and he says his job demands that he be alert 24 hours
of the day, “on your duty post, in your home, on the
way to somewhere, or even in your sleep.”
Alhaji Sule speaks further:
What experience have you regarding your job as image maker
of the state government?
Working as Director of Press, I can say is one of the most
difficult and most misunderstood jobs around today. Let me
tell you, I am not a free man because whatever you say, no
matter how honest and sincere you may be, not everybody will
believe you, especially people outside the government. They
assume you are covering the truth, yet for the love of truth
and justice you are saying the truth. No matter what you do,
you cannot convince them. Right now, I have no personal opinion
of mine to express because everybody or most people will think
I am speaking in my official capacity as Director, that is
why I would suggest that it is better and wiser for any public
relations man or director of press for that matter to be less
forth-coming in casual or shop talks to avoid courting controversy.
The moment you realise that it is of great importance to always
be on guard, you will do yourself good and I can say that
will be the beginning of wisdom.
One other important thing to bear in mind is that a public
relations man is one who should work 24 hours, by this, I
mean wherever you are, you are on your duty post, in your
home, on the way to somewhere or even in your sleep.
Do you have any regret regarding your present position?
No, I don’t but the only snag is that because of my
busy nature, I hardly have time for my family and friends;
I always beg them not to think that I have abandoned them
but I thank God that my wife and the kids have been very understanding.
I have a very big job on my laps - I love to do it as
it ought to be done.
When was the most difficult and trying day?
I can’t pretend that that has not happened. In fact
the day some people planted a story in the media, discrediting
the Deputy-governor of our state, Engr. Magaji Abdullahi,
perhaps to create bad blood between him and the governor,
the whole world blamed me for it. And, all the explanations
I offered to the contrary that I knew nothing of it were taken
with a pinch of salt. They assumed I was the person behind
the publication; in fact, I did not sleep well that period
but thank God, the matter was later resolved as the two leaders
understood that their enemies were at work, trying desperately
to cause disaffection between them. In the government we work
as a family for the progress of our state and people.
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