President Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledging the media power and the power of communication in his task to effect some lasting change on Nigeria, met the media corps of the State House in Abuja today. The meeting was significant: it was PMB’s first day in the Aso Villa.

From the grinning expressions here, we guess the meeting was a convivial affair.

President Buhari, with Femi Adeshina and Garba Shehu: salutes the State House Press corps

And here PMB addresses the media corps. Far right, is the chairman of the State House Corps. Kehinde Amodu

During the interaction, Buhari recalled the frosty relationship he had with the media during his military days and said all was bygone.

“My not so easy relationship with you I think lasted over 30 years, since I locked a few of you when I was in uniform. Later, one of those, Thompson (Tunde), was generous enough to visit me to say he has pardoned me.

“For the rest of them, the other two, who didn’t pardon me I think they have their own problem; I have no problem. I have detained them; I have been detained; so, I think a balance has been struck,’’ he added.

The President said that he chose some of the best in the media to be his media aides noting that the appointment of his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, was the first to be approved by the Senate.

“It is not by accident that I got one of the best of you to be my Special Adviser. One of the positions that I had to get cleared from the Senate to get approval, he was the first in the 15 the Senators agreed that I can have as Special Advisers.’’

He said he appointed Adesina to use him as shield against the media.

“I got one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you.
Whether his job is difficult is up to him.

“Here, I thank you in advance for even for what you are going to do to me.’’