Public Relation is the art and science of analyzing trends, predicting their consequences, counseling organization, leadership and implementing planned programme of action which will serve both an organizations and public interests, (Odemulegwu, 2009). This definition actually points out that public relations has to do with the process of establishing and maintaining cordial relationship between an organization and its public so as to help the organization to achieve its objectives. (Odemulegwu, 2009).

Sam (2006), quoting the institute of public relations (IPR) in the United Kingdom.  Public relation is the sustained and deliberation efforts to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organization and its public”.  The editors of relations as “a philosophy and function of management that evaluate public attitudes, identifies the policies of an individual or firm with public interest and execute programme of actions to earn public understanding and acceptance.

However, there was thus unfortunate tendency at the time among the big industries and corporations to disregard the public interest in their role, activities, policies, procedures, and operations.  In a democratic setting, moreover, this neglect situation could not go unrecognized.  Hence, within the early periods of 20th century, there were series of attacks on such big corporations as the Railroads, oil steel and coal corporations for their obvious indifference to public welfare and other ruthless tactics of their business practices (Philip, 2013).

Community relations is pivotal to this framework.  Thus, the people live in a community and the institutions which provide the needed services to them, are mutually dependent.  What affects one consequently touches the other; as such both should work towards establishing a healthy productive and dynamic society.  The people who live in a community and the corporate entities and other institutions within that community must therefore practice interdependence, corporation, collaboration, solidarity and unification and should strive to eschew all forms of selfishness by working assiduously towards a common goal (Nwosu, 2004).

Peak (2006), supports this view as he states:  A basic ingredient of every good community relations program is the necessity for official up and down the line to know their community.  Philip (2000) not only endorses the above statement, but also points out that, if one is desirous of success, one has to keep abreast of changes within the locality.  According to him, community refers not only to a group of people living in the same locality, but to the interaction of those people.  In the past, the tendency was to treat a community as a rather simple entity, a collection of people, a “home town”.  Today, we are beginning to recognize each community as a complex entity with which a corporate organization can do business with.  As a public therefore, an oil firm is required to treat the host community in a way to enhance mutual benefit erupting from oil exploration (exploitation) and the impact of this oil business on the community’s welfare (Inyama, 2006).