Abstract:

Propaganda is one of the oldest and time-tested communication strategies that have positive and negative connotations and applications. Often, propaganda is used to manipulate public opinions, shape behaviours, and exacerbate existing divides. Politicians and their surrogates also use propaganda to control narratives, vilify opposition, and create ‘us versus them’ narratives. However, propaganda is not completely nefarious and can be used to serve utilitarian and positive purposes by skilled public relations practitioners. In this instance, propaganda can be deployed creatively to heal the deep post-election divides we currently have in Nigeria. The Nigeria’s 2023 general elections witnessed one of the vitriolic and vilest uses of propaganda, deployed by all the major political parties to outwit one another. It is evident the polity is yet to heal from the deep scars of the political period, and this portends grave danger for the unity, and progress of the society. It is believed that the future of the Nigerian economy would continue to hang in the balance if the deep-seated divides are not addressed deftly and timeously. Drawing on Harold Lasswell’s propaganda theory and the development communication theory, this paper uses library research and documents the negative impact of propaganda during the recent political period, examines the different techniques of propaganda, and recommends that the same techniques that were used nefariously to pit Nigerians against each other could be professionally deployed to heal the land and set Nigeria on the path of restoration.