Reuben Onyishi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Enugu State on New Media, has been prohibited from representing Governor Peter Mbah to any media outlet nationwide. This ban comes as a consequence of Onyishi’s poor performance during an appearance on a well-known radio program aired by Urban Radio, a prominent Enugu-based radio station. According to reports, the media aide was heavily criticized and portrayed as intellectually inferior by a human rights activist from the opposing party.
The decision to restrict Onyishi’s role in communicating on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah stems from his unsatisfactory display during the aforementioned radio program. As a result, he is no longer permitted to represent the Governor in any interactions with media organizations across the country. Onyishi’s appearance on Urban Radio allegedly turned into a humiliating experience, with the opposing party’s human rights activist successfully discrediting him and presenting him as lacking intellectual prowess.
The incident during the radio program prompted the ban on Reuben Onyishi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on New Media, from engaging with media outlets on Governor Peter Mbah’s behalf. Onyishi’s poor performance on the popular program broadcasted by Urban Radio resulted in a significant loss of credibility and a depiction of intellectual inferiority against a well-prepared human rights activist representing the opposing political party.
Enugu Monitor has obtained information indicating that as a result of the disastrous appearance, the authorities at the Government House called in Reuben Onyishi, the outspoken media assistant, and issued a strong warning. He was explicitly instructed never to engage with any media organization on behalf of the governor and the government.
Additionally, it has been reported that Reuben, who has gained a reputation for making unfiltered statements, was accused by the governor of exacerbating the conflicts at Ogbete Main Market. It is alleged that his careless remarks and thoughtless statements on the matter contributed to the escalation of the situation, resulting in the unfortunate loss of two lives.
In response to the catastrophic outing, the leadership at the Government House summoned Reuben Onyishi, the media assistant, and delivered a stern warning. Consequently, he has been forbidden from representing the governor and the government in any media engagements. Furthermore, Reuben has been accused by the governor of fueling the tensions at Ogbete Main Market through his reckless statements, which led to the tragic loss of two lives.
In a recent publication authored by Onyishi, he referred to the individuals protesting the closure of their shops and offices by the state government as miscreants. His statements and other remarks were not authorized by his principal, causing further controversy.
It remains unclear why the government permitted Onyishi, in his capacity as a New Media assistant, to make radio appearances representing the government. The term “New Media” itself typically pertains to the use of digital technologies for information dissemination and marketing, making it puzzling as to why Onyishi was engaged in such spokesperson responsibilities.
Onyishi’s characterization of the demonstrators and the unauthorized nature of his statements have deepened the concerns surrounding his involvement in media engagements. The government’s decision to allow Onyishi, an individual with a specific role in New Media, to interact as a representative of the government on radio remains a subject of inquiry.
It has been brought to light that Reuben lacks any formal training in the field of Digital Marketing and Communication. While he utilizes WhatsApp to some extent, his proficiency and access to other digital platforms seem to be non-existent. Despite having multiple Facebook accounts, his online presence is underwhelming, with his articles receiving predominantly negative sentiment scores.
In addition to the ongoing allegations of electoral malpractices surrounding Governor Mbah’s administration since taking office on May 29, there have been persistent challenges stemming from aides like Reuben. Their primary responsibility is to promote the achievements of the administration but, unfortunately, they have been attracting more negative attention and criticism.
Reuben’s limited proficiency in digital assets and his inadequate performance in managing the administration’s image online further contribute to the challenges faced by Governor Mbah and his team. These issues have added unnecessary baggage to the administration’s already caustic relationship with the media.
Reuben Onyishi has gained a reputation for exhibiting rebellious behavior towards authority figures, which raises doubts about his willingness to abide by the current restraining order. Previous incidents have revealed his tendency to defy instructions from his superiors when it comes to matters that necessitate supervision and approval. Furthermore, he has developed a notoriety for venturing into areas that fall outside the scope of his assigned responsibilities.
Given Reuben’s track record, it remains uncertain whether he will comply with the latest restraining order. His past defiance of authority figures and inclination to overstep boundaries assigned to him indicate a potential likelihood of him disregarding the directive. The situation underscores the challenges and uncertainties associated with managing his actions and enforcing discipline within his role as a media assistant.
Onyishi’s controversial nature was evident during the tenure of the previous administration in the state, which frequently brought disrepute to his principal. Throughout that period, Onyishi consistently found himself embroiled in disputes and situations that cast a negative light on the position he held and reflected poorly on his then principal.
During the previous administration, Onyishi’s actions and statements often sparked controversy, leading to a loss of credibility and respect for his principal. These incidents repeatedly marred the reputation of his then principal and undermined the public perception of the administration.
The history of Onyishi’s controversial behavior serves as a reminder of the adverse impact it had on the previous administration, contributing to a lack of public trust and a decline in the reputation of his then principal.
