Cubana Chief Priest As Special Adviser To Imo Governor On Social Media Influence: A Right Or Wrong Choice?

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA 

With an estimated 3.7 million regular visitors on his offiial Instagram page, over 500k followers on Facebook, 70k followers on TikTok (A Chinese invented Social App to share videos), an impressive visibility on Snapchat and other social media platforms, Cubana Chief Priest, in my own personal assessment as a PR-Expert and Media Consultant, is well situated and qualified for this very appointment as Special Adviser on Social Media Influence to Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Hope Uzodimma. Leaving a big question mark to the efforts of old media hirelings of the State Government, who come online 24/7 to defend the programmes, policies and projects of the State Government through their deluge of rejoinders, especially, when it is under stiff criticism by the organised opposition in Imo State.

An influencer, for emphasis sake, could be an opinion moulder, a thoroughbred public analyst, a sound social commentator, a radio presenter, or a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific field. Suffice it to say that, social media influencers have access to a wide spectrum of audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. 

Since the advent of social media or new media, which has become a global phenomenon, influencers have become major trends as companies and other corporate organizations endorse them as brand ambassadors to market their products or services. This is particularly, what singled Okechukwu Paschal Chibuike out in the Showbiz Industry, as a professional hypeman nay social media influencer. He has carved his own niche. He has the audience and reach.  And the 3R Government, which is unrelentingly looking for veritable means of warming itself into the hearts of Imo people and Nigerians at large, is leveraging on the popularity of the Socialite and Celebrity Barman as part of its image laundering strategy for credibility and acceptability.

However, there are many people, who do not share in the thought line of the State Government’s choice of Cubana Chief Priest as SA to the Governor on Social Media Influence, as they are averse to his ‘showmanship disposition online’. To this group of people, they would rather prefer a local content; one of them on the streets of Imo to a man, who hardly relates with ordinary people except the business and political class.

Select opinions shared by Imo people on Facebook read thus:

“The governor thinks he can pull supporters for him on social media through his style and fans base. He didn’t calculate it politically to understand that drinks hypeman is different from political hypeman. E go clear for their eyes soon.” 

– Emmanuel .A. Kabuo.

“Yes, we all know that Cubana Cheif Priest is well known and popular, just like Obi Cubana, his master. But even if you appoint two of them, it cannot change the fact that you have failed in your government. If only Chief Priest knows the enmity this appointment will bring for him and his business, he would better reject it.”

– Igwe Henry Chukwuemeka.

Despite the bashings of those, who shared contrary views, the appointment has also received huge positive nod by other socialites and showbiz promoters both in Imo and outside the state, as Cubana Chief Priest has a special way of adding social vibe at every watershed event. No doubt, Dr. Ezemuo is a brand; the 46 cows burial crowner is a household name.

Unfortunately, Governor Hope Uzodimma did not understand that the power of a brand lies in its ability to influence purchasing behaviour because a brand name on the package is not the same thing as a brand name in a mind.

No matter how the media managers and handlers of the Shared Prosperity Administration try to win acceptability by broadening the base, widening the appeal and extending the line of command of party membership and followership, the manner in which the government was enthroned remains alien to Imo people including the conservatives and political pundits.

The government forced its way into the market place instead of first walking into the minds of the people. That is one of the major problems. Even 100 Cubana Chief Priests put together as SAs on Social Media Influence to Governor Hope Uzodimma cannot solve this particular problem. Imo people’s reservations and apathy on the Shared Prosperity Government are engrained in the hearts.

Njoku MacDonald Obinna, 

Media Consultant|PR-Expert,

Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters