Following the announcement of the appointment Obi Asika as the new social media strategist for President Goodluck Jonathan, not much has been said about the appropriateness or otherwise of his appointment. Almost 24 hours after the news went public, no official word had been released on social media by Asika himself.
I’m not his close pal but I’ve interacted with him severally, especially while covering Social Media Week Lagos – an event that will hold next week and is being organized by Asika’s company in conjunction with other partners. Maybe that’s why he is yet to say anything.
I spent the early hours of today comparing Asika and the former leader of Jonathan’s social media crew, Reno Omokri. I concluded that they are like light and darkness – there is no nexus.
While Omokri to a large extent is just extremely passionate about the president, Asika is a strategist and a businessman. Very few people knew Omokri before he joined the president’s team but we all know Asika as the soft spoken man with baritone voice – the man that once signed the cheques of music superstars including Naeto C and Sash P.
Asika also has an internationally recognised booming media business.
What Asika cannot do
I don’t see Asika engaging in ‘Twitter fights’ with Omojuwa and other supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari because he is more experienced and mature. He would rather sort things out offline than be trading traceable words online. The reason is simple, he has much more to lose than anyone.
I also believe Asika will not be blocking social media users who share opposing opinion just like Omokri did, this is because Asika would not want to appear as someone opposed to free speech and debates.
What Asika can do
He is a media guru who knows his way in the industry. I expect him to be tactical without being confrontational. I know many are expecting to be reading pro-Jonathan posts on his official Twitter handle, I don’t expect him to do that. Instead, Asika could put together a tactical team and new channels to properly propagate the gospel according to Goodluck Jonathan.
He can bring well structured social media team on board and not the current crop of paid tweeters that are trading words on social media without making any sense.
Even though Omojuwa and the rest directly confronted the controversial Omokri during his reign as the head of the president’s social media team, they are obviously patiently waiting for Obi Asika to officially begin his job and take the first shot. Coincidentally, Omojuwa and the rest will be participating at next week’s Social Media Week Lagos.
Asika will be riding on the wheels of trust and respect he enjoys in the industry but these could go up in flames immediately he decides to go the way of Omokri.
Though it appears to be too late, it’s obvious that the president needs someone like Asika considering the battered Jonathan rep online. But when I asked myself whether Asika really needs to be involved with the president, I concluded he ought to have remained in the private sector.
But he’s a businessman and I’m sure he wouldn’t be doing it without adequate remuneration.
