I’m impressed with the image handlers of General Buhari. This time, they got him to pose for photo ops in various Nigerian costumes and even a suit! It might not have been an easy task but the fact that the General was willing to rebrand his visual image signifies that he is ready to become the politician he never was.
GMB is a man whose personal integrity I admire and like. He comes from the old raw stock where their word is their bond, mostly. You know, those pre-colonial and 60’s post-colonial breed of sterling Nigerians brought up by hand and virtues.
He’s coming out to reach out to the younger generation, in a bid to get them to understand him. Because, come to look at it, anyone who is 30 years and below today in Nigeria only know Buhari from what their parents or elders must have told them. And while the stories about him might tally in areas of discipline and rigid dictatorship, it does not in anyway remove from the fact that his image thus far has been one of stoic Gentlemanliness since he was pushed out of power.
President Jonathan, among a few other things, has the likeability factor also in his favour. A random sample from people reveals that though there might be anger at the way he has steered aspects of the state, he seems to be liked by his calm disposition and perhaps, what I call a pacifist outlook to volcanic national issues.
Even his enemies or opponents agree on one thing; he is a gentleman and a nice guy.
In American politics, the likeability factor is huge when voting for Presidential candidates. President Obama had more likeability than McCain and Romney in both elections he contested for.
It will be a factor in Nigeria’s elections in 2015. I personally think GMB is hero worshipped and perhaps rightly so by his supporters. But is he really liked? How will his handlers get him to be more liked?
Objectively, President GEJ has the ‘Eeyaa factor’ going for him a notch higher than GMB. I am sure you know what ‘Eeyaa’ means in Nigeria; a cross between pity and a propensity to help the pitied.
I have been researching on body language influences amongst the Nigerian Electorate since 1999. President OBJ was never really liked in 1999 and 2003. He won through the political ingenuity of his Vice-President then. President Yar’Adua was liked and ‘Eeyaa-ed’ in 2007. President GEJ was in 2011.
In 2015, the ‘Eeyaa factor’ will go a long way. And something tells me that there would be a few more surprises by both frontline candidates for that factoral vote in the next few weeks.
This is not a post to sway votes for him, neither is it one to sway votes for President Jonathan. I am analyzing personal virtues and the likeability factor in determining votes in 2015 for the Presidential elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment