A United States-based
communication firm, Fleishman-Hillard Inc, has admitted that it arranged a
Cable News Network (CNN) interview for President Goodluck Jonathan for a fee,
claiming, however, that it only received $40,000 and not the $60,000 as initially
agreed, an online medium, the Premium Times, reports.
communication firm, Fleishman-Hillard Inc, has admitted that it arranged a
Cable News Network (CNN) interview for President Goodluck Jonathan for a fee,
claiming, however, that it only received $40,000 and not the $60,000 as initially
agreed, an online medium, the Premium Times, reports.
According to the online outfit, the US firm made this revelation
in an email reply to its enquiries, adding that parts of planned “communication
services”, including media interviews for the president in 2010, were later
suspended, with equivalent $20,000 reduction in its fees.
in an email reply to its enquiries, adding that parts of planned “communication
services”, including media interviews for the president in 2010, were later
suspended, with equivalent $20,000 reduction in its fees.
According to the Premium Times, the development implies that for
arranging one interview, the firm was paid $40,000. The online medium also
claimed that the US firm did not state which media interview went through, but
said the service was in support of Jonathan ’s trip to New York for the 2010
United Nations General Assembly.
“Due to urgent ad-hoc meetings held for the African nations at
the 2010 UN General Assembly, the original services proposed were not able to
be fully executed,” a Nigerian firm, Quadrant Company, representing
Fleishman-Hillard, said in an e-mailed response to Premium Times.
the 2010 UN General Assembly, the original services proposed were not able to
be fully executed,” a Nigerian firm, Quadrant Company, representing
Fleishman-Hillard, said in an e-mailed response to Premium Times.
The company said “planned media interviews and other services”
for the president were cancelled with only one appointment rescheduled for a
later date. As a result, Fleishman-Hillard fees were more than $20,000 less
than those originally proposed,” the statement added.
for the president were cancelled with only one appointment rescheduled for a
later date. As a result, Fleishman-Hillard fees were more than $20,000 less
than those originally proposed,” the statement added.
But Premium Times reports that the US firm’s claim is inaccurate
on the grounds of the documents in its possession. In one of the documents,
Fleishman-Hillard informed its contact in the Nigerian presidency that although
it was unable to get an interview for Jonathan in the United States, it
succeeded in getting the CNN to interview the president in Nigeria.
on the grounds of the documents in its possession. In one of the documents,
Fleishman-Hillard informed its contact in the Nigerian presidency that although
it was unable to get an interview for Jonathan in the United States, it
succeeded in getting the CNN to interview the president in Nigeria.
The reaction followed an earlier report by the online medium on
how the president paid thousands of dollars to agents for arranging interviews
with foreign media outlet, a choice seen as wasteful and unnecessary.
how the president paid thousands of dollars to agents for arranging interviews
with foreign media outlet, a choice seen as wasteful and unnecessary.
Documents available to online outfit indicate that
Fleishman-Hillard Inc anchored the deal with the Nigerian presidency through
Enyi Odigbo, chairman of Lagos-based advertising and public relations company,
Caesar’s Group.
Fleishman-Hillard Inc anchored the deal with the Nigerian presidency through
Enyi Odigbo, chairman of Lagos-based advertising and public relations company,
Caesar’s Group.
In the bill, seen by Premium Times, the company requested $59,
200 from the Nigerian government for arranging an interview for President
Jonathan with the CNN Nigerian affiliate in late 2010.
200 from the Nigerian government for arranging an interview for President
Jonathan with the CNN Nigerian affiliate in late 2010.
The interview, anchored by Isha Sesay, held in Aso Rock in Abuja
on September 30, 2010, in preparation for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of
Nigeria’s Independence.
on September 30, 2010, in preparation for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of
Nigeria’s Independence.
Fleishman-Hillard was also to contact other foreign media
outlets such as Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Reuters, as
Mr. Jonathan planned at the time to announce his intention to run for president
in 2011. The firm only delivered on the CNN interview.
outlets such as Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Reuters, as
Mr. Jonathan planned at the time to announce his intention to run for president
in 2011. The firm only delivered on the CNN interview.
A response, signed by Bolaji Okusaga, the managing director of
Lagos-based The Quadrant Company, who is representing Fleishman-Hillard in
Nigeria, said a part the contract awarded to the company was suspended “at the
last minute” due to the exigency of time.
Lagos-based The Quadrant Company, who is representing Fleishman-Hillard in
Nigeria, said a part the contract awarded to the company was suspended “at the
last minute” due to the exigency of time.
The company denied carrying out lobbying activities for the
presidency, and said what it offered to the presidency was a “one-time
assignment”.
presidency, and said what it offered to the presidency was a “one-time
assignment”.
“Fleishman-Hillard has not provided any service to the Office of
the President since that time,” the firm said.
the President since that time,” the firm said.
Since taking office early 2010, some of the president’s key
decisions have been made public on foreign outlets, mainly the CNN.
decisions have been made public on foreign outlets, mainly the CNN.
Jonathan had delivered his first public comments on late
President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health in an interview with CNN’s Christiana
Amanpour in 2010, where he spoke of how the ailing president’s family blocked
him from seeing him.
President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health in an interview with CNN’s Christiana
Amanpour in 2010, where he spoke of how the ailing president’s family blocked
him from seeing him.
Source: Leadership
