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Acording to sources on Saturday, the officer was reportedly sent on a high-risk rescue mission without essential air or ground reinforcements from the military.

Segun Showunmi, former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has opined that poor communication skills hampers on the image and credibility of the government.

He therefore called for an in depth professional communication training to enable representatives enhance their ability to convey messages effectively, manage crises, and promote transparency.

Showunmi explained that by improving communication skills, government officials can better articulate policies, address public concerns, and foster a positive image.

His advice stemmed from the controversy generated by a recent live broadcast interview between presidential aide Daniel Bwala and international journalist Mehdi Hasan.

The PDP Chieftain and Convener of the Alternative on Saturday, in a commentary titled,”When Spokespersons Falter: Lessons in Strategic Communication. The Bwala/Mehdi meltdown,” opined that as a spokesperson, every word, tone, gesture, and response becomes part of the narrative

that both domestic and foreign audiences use to evaluate a government.

He said, ”Recent interview performances by presidential representatives have reignited an important conversation about the professional standards required for spokespersons in the modern media environment. Confronting seasoned international interviewers such as Mehdi Hassan is not merely a media appearance; it is a high-stakes exercise in narrative management.

“Effective spokespersons are rarely accidental performers. Communication scholars often reference the “10,000-hour rule,” popularized by Malcolm Gladwell, to illustrate the level of sustained practice required to achieve mastery in complex professions. Professional spokespersons understand how to redirect hostile or loaded questions without appearing evasive.

“They rely on structured communication frameworks often summarized as a “4+1” approach: four supporting points anchored by one central message that consistently returns the conversation to the principal’s policy priorities.”

He maintained that discipline is a hallmark of professionalism, stating that communicators resist the temptation to speak for the applause of a narrow political audience.

“Equally important is situational awareness. Every media platform has a “house style,” every interviewer a known method of questioning, and every audience an expectation of tone. Preparation therefore involves understanding the adversarial dynamics of the interview environment, anticipating lines of attack, and crafting responses that maintain composure while advancing the government’s narrative.

“The craft also involves non-verbal communication. Tone of voice, pitch, cadence, posture, and controlled gestures are not cosmetic features; they are tools that reinforce credibility. Audiences often evaluate confidence and authority through these signals even before processing the substance of a response.

“For governments, the broader lesson is institutional rather than personal. Strategic communication should be treated as a professional discipline requiring training, mentorship, and continuous preparation. Many successful administrations invest heavily in communication war rooms, message simulation exercises, and spokesperson coaching to ensure that representatives are fully prepared for hostile interviews.

“In an era where a single media appearance can circulate globally within minutes, spokesperson performance is no longer a minor detail of governance. It is part of statecraft,” he added.

Bwala/Mehdi interview: Poor communication skills hamper govt’s image, credibility – Showunmi

Police in Rivers State have launched an investigation into an alleged arson attack on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, secretariat in Ubima community, near Port Harcourt.

The incident was confirmed on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.

According to reports, suspected political thugs set fire to the ADC ward office located in Ubima, the hometown of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Sources said the attackers had earlier mounted a roadblock along the Omuma–Ubima Road, reportedly targeting vehicles transporting ADC materials such as banners to the community.

Iringe-Koko, however, called for calm among residents, assuring that police detectives were already working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

According to her, the command has commenced a full-scale investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and those behind it.

“We received a report of a fire outbreak at the ADC secretariat in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area, allegedly caused by some miscreants.

“A detachment was deployed to the scene, and it was confirmed to be a party office.

“No life was lost, but properties were damaged. Investigation is ongoing,” she said.

The police spokesperson further stated that detectives were still assessing the extent of damage to the office complex.

She added that no arrests had been made so far and urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing useful information about the incident.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness who identified himself as Amadi told NAN that the attack occurred shortly before the arrival of Amaechi for the ongoing ADC electronic registration exercise in the state.

He explained that the suspected arsonists invaded the secretariat in the early hours of Friday and set the building on fire.

“The flames destroyed several items inside the facility, including party documents and materials.

“By the time we noticed the fire, the building had already suffered significant damage,” Amadi said.

Police begin probe into attack on ADC office in Rivers

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company PLC, IBEDC, has disclosed that the difficulties currently experienced by customers are largely linked to reduced power generation and unstable supply from the national grid.

IBEDC said this has affected the volume of electricity available for distribution.

DAILY POST reports that residents across several communities within the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company franchise have been facing worsening electricity shortages, a development which has prompted protests.

Youths in Osogbo protested to the regional office of the distribution company in Osogbo on Wednesday.

However, in a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the company acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the supply shortfalls and apologised to customers whose homes and businesses have been affected.

According to IBEDC, “gas supply shortages to electricity generation plants have significantly reduced generation capacity across the country, forcing distribution companies to implement increased load shedding within their networks”.

The firm also noted that electricity demand within its franchise areas has risen sharply in recent months, especially following the introduction of additional Band A feeders in compliance with regulatory guidelines.

It explained that despite the increase in demand, the energy allocated to the company from the national grid has remained unstable and has occasionally dropped, widening the gap between electricity supply and consumption requirements.

“As a result of these constraints, some communities within our franchise are experiencing supply shortfalls. We fully understand the frustration this has generated among our customers and we sincerely apologise for the disruption to homes, businesses and economic activities,” the statement said.

The company confirmed that the power situation has already sparked protests in some affected communities, while other areas have indicated plans to stage demonstrations over the prolonged outages.

“The current supply challenges have understandably sparked protests in some communities within our franchise with more communities threatening to protest,” the company stated.

IBEDC, however, urged residents and community leaders to pursue dialogue rather than confrontation, noting that it has been engaging stakeholders across its coverage areas while working with players in the electricity value chain to stabilise the grid and improve supply.

IBEDC blames national grid constraints for worsening power outages

“As of 6 March, the recapitalisation exercise is progressing steadily. 30 banks have met the new minimum capital requirements applicable to their respective licence authorisations.”

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