The Nation Newspaper

Category: Worship

  • Adeboye to Nigerians: Demand accountability

    The general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has challenged Nigerians to hold elected public officials to accountability, transparency, probity and good governance.

    He said the era of voting and leaving elected officials to run the show without accountability was over.

    Adeboye spoke last Sunday at the special monthly prayer and thanksgiving service of the RCCG, Throne of Grace, National Headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

    According to him, many office holders are looting public treasury and getting away with it because Nigerians are indifferent and have refused to ask pertinent questions that will move the country forward.

    Adeboye, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Personnel and Administration, Pastor Johnson Odesola, noted that it is high time Nigerians, particularly youths, engaged elective representatives at federal, state and local government level on issues such as infrastructural development, power supply, health care, education, food supply and other national issues.

    He said: “We need to begin to ask our leaders what they want to deliver and what they have delivered in time past that should earn them our votes,” he said.

    Adeboye argued that demands for accountability become imperative because no corrupt leader has ever been jailed rather they are getting chieftaincy titles and pardon for corrupt practices.

    He added that whatever is acquired illegally will fly like wings, urging elected officials to desist from looting.

     

  • ‘The church lacks electoral value’

    ‘The church lacks electoral value’

    As a one-time deputy speaker of Oyo State, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, the senior pastor of Living Spring Chapel International Lagos, has seen both worlds.  He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on how the church can influence good governance and political emancipation. Excerpts:  

    Are you bothered by the tension in the run-off to the general elections?

    It is normal in the Nigerian setting. But this year’s elections are particularly interesting. Never have I seen Nigerians as enthusiastic and concerned as now. Everyone wants to vote now. In the other years, we always complained about Nigerians being apathetic but this year people are interested in who governs them.

    There are apprehensions to the extent that SMSs are flying around telling Nigerians to stock-pile food. Is that necessary?

    No, that is not necessary. Yes, there would be challenges here and there but not to the extent that Nigeria will go to war. Definitely, there would be skirmishes and crises in some hot points but from what I can see and sense, life in Nigeria will continue after the elections.

    What is the basis of your optimism?

    We have prayed and I am sure God has answered us. Two, there is a peace pact signed by the parties…

    …The one that did not last more than 24 hours?

    Well, it hasn’t completely broken down and we believe it won’t. An average Nigeria doesn’t want trouble, except for one or two miscreants. But I am optimistic that our lives will continue after the polls.

    How can we reduce the tension and violence to the barest minimum?

    The greatest factor is for political actors to caution their supporters and followers. The political godfathers also have a part to play. There is a combination of illiteracy and poverty that make people do things they should do.

    Those who want to cause trouble want to do it for some people. If you want to fight on my behalf and I say no, will you still go ahead? Some of these political thugs fight because they know there are people to defend them. If they have nobody, they will keep away.

    Once the political gladiators are not ready to fight and instruct their followers not to fight, there won’t be violence.

    Should religion play a part in who will elect to govern us?

    In Nigeria, religion and traditions are part of our political culture here. You can’t play politics here without considering those factors. We are Nigerians, not Americans and you can’t take away that from us.

    However, I believe the church is a sleeping giant. I believe the solutions to our national problems can emanate from the church if our leaders understand the dynamics of politics. I believe religious leaders have minimal roles to play but nothing more than that though.

    Should they endorse candidates?

    In my understanding, they shouldn’t be partisan but they shouldn’t be apolitical. It is wrong for the church to say it is apolitical. If there is any interest I have, it is to correct that mistake. He who pays the piper dictates the tune. If you say you are apolitical, it means you are not involved. If you are not involved, where is your place then?

    I believe that if church leaders produce good people for the industries and marriage as well as other sectors of life, we should produce good people for politics. So, we shouldn’t be apolitical and partisan.

    I don’t subscribe to open endorsement of any candidate. As a pastor, you should be a father to all. Endorsement should not arise at all.

    Should the polls be postponed as advocated in some quarters?

    The February 14 and 18 dates for me are sacrosanct. They should not be postponed. Rather, we should advise INEC to do everything possible to make the PVCs available. To shift the dates at this time will create more problems and suspicion. To shift the polls might be the beginning of the crisis we want to avoid. I think we have gone too far in the day to shift the polls.

    INEC, unfortunately, has not done enough in the distribution of PVCs. I, for example, don’t have one yet.

    Maybe that is because you have not made enough efforts

    I have the TVCs. I was there this Monday but told it hasn’t come. INEC hasn’t done well in that aspect as far as I am concerned. There are still many Nigerians that have been disenfranchised. But be that as it may, it is too late in the day to call for postponement.

    Shouldn’t INEC allow for use of TVCs?

    I believe that too except that they said their card readers can only work with PVCs. If you knew that from the beginning, you should have factored that in. It is amazing that we do things haphazardly here. INEC gave us just three days to pick up PVCs. That is never enough in Nigeria. You know we are late starters.

    You will only get them to act when the ultimatum is close. I know there are considering financial factors but that is the price to pay for credible elections. The number of people that you will disenfranchise might just make a shame of the whole process.

    Are you bothered by the sharp division in the church on the forthcoming polls?

    I am not bothered because like I told you, the church is a sleeping giant. I believe nothing any church leader says will affect the elections significantly.

    So, their endorsements do not count?

    It doesn’t matter because they are not there. The church does not produce who you vote for. If you don’t do that, you are not there. When I won my election, I knew the platform that took me there. My respect and loyalty were to the platform. As long as the church does not have a platform that produces candidates, it remains a toothless bulldog.

    Their opinions, endorsements and supports do not matter at all.

    So, the candidates running after them for endorsements are wasting their time?

    Yes, they are making mistakes because they don’t have electoral value. The church in its current state doesn’t have electoral value. There is no single pastor that sent anyone there. Until the church has political structure and infrastructure, it won’t make much impact politically. Those who come to churches looking for endorsement are just like ‘for whatever it is worth, let me just go there’.

    When you are seeking elections, you look for a little here and there. They will leave the church, move to the mosque and end up in the shrines. Whatever could bring one vote here and there, they will do.

    You mentioned the issue of ghost voters. What does that mean?

    I will tell you we have millions of abandoned, uncollected PVCs. Have you found out why that is so? You know in politics, it is parties and kingmakers that mobilise people to register. Most Nigerians are induced to register. Where I registered, in a GRA setting, we saw miscreants and everyone coming around. They never live among us but they were induced to register.

    In the previous political settings, those cards are collected by those who register them. They will hand them over to another set of induced people to vote. That was always the beginning of rigging; elections are rigged from the point of registration. Now that biometrics are involved, those cards are useless. No one else can use them.

    Those cards are what politicians invest heavily on. Once they cannot hijack boxes or announce results, they rely on the cards to rig. But INEC has taken care of that now. That is why the cards are abandoned. We have too many ghost voters. That is the intrigues of politicians and INEC has perked that. There is no way INEC can find out the perpetrators. The names and addresses they used are fictitious so INEC has wasted billions on those voters.

    In your first electoral outing, you relied on your church connection. How did it go?

    I failed woefully my brother. That is why I tell you the church does not influence anything. We have no structure to produce anything or influence anybody.

    Do you subscribe to soldiers manning the streets during election days?

    It should be strange to democracy but it is needful in our peculiar situation. The Nigerian factor is a real factor that we must pray to overcome with time, prosperity and education. There are those paid to foment troubles.

    The soldiers and security agents involved should be well informed and trained to take care of things. Not to have them there now will be detrimental to our interest.

    Are you impressed by the quality of campaigns these times around?

    I am not at all. We have a lot of character assassination, name-calling and issues not be addressed. It is unfortunate that we have not seen issue-based campaigns. If you ask me, I will say that Gen. Buhari is not a Boko Haram sponsor. If he were, they wouldn’t want to kill him. Shekau has even said that Buhari is an infidel.

    I pity Buhari because he has been successfully campaigned. That you are supporting Sharia does not make you a Boko Haram. Boko Haram does not believe that Islam as practised in Saudi Arabia is the original.

    Buhari is a Sharia zealot just as an average Muslim. Sharia is a way of life for them. He did that with all his zeal while in power. But that is different from being a Boko Haram. You can’t be one and have a running mate that is a Christian.

    Boko Haram does not accommodate any other different faith or belief. So, when they say he is a Boko Haram sponsor, confusing that with Sharia advocacy, it is unfortunate for him. So, I haven’t even see campaign of issues. Someone said he cannot remember his phone number. But is that what you need to govern well?

    The corruption, economic downturn and insecurity problems facing us, no one is addressing them. There is too much triviality involved.

  • Assemblies of God gets 650 new reverends

    After serving for a minimum of eleven years on full time, 650 pastors of the Assemblies of God Nigeria have been ordained as reverend ministers.

    The ordained ministers also passed the prescribed examination and screening exercises in accordance with the tradition of the church.

    Among them were 596 men and 54 women.

    They were ordained at the international conference centre of the church, Evangel Camp, in Okpoto, Ebonyi State before national and regional leaders during a 3-day annual leadership retreat with the theme championing the great awakening.

    Conducting the ordination service, the general superintendent of the church, Rev (Dr) Chidi Okoroafor, assured that the event will lead to a great change in their ministries.

    He urged them to focus and depend on God and eschew mundane attractions.

    Assisted by all serving and retired executive committee members, Okoroafor performed the sacred consecration.

    The ordination was preceded by the retreat during which the church leaders received fresh auction to function for the next one year.

    The general superintendent said the church will be pursuing a seven-point agenda covering spiritual emphasis, infrastructural development and human capital development for 2015.

    He challenged them to position themselves for divine guidance so that the church can witness a great awakening.

    There was also the general committee meeting during which the leaders took far-reaching resolutions on the church.

  • Corridors of power

    NATIONAL MIRROR of January 25 goofed: “FG seeks N921.4bn to complete 925 roads projects” All the Facts, All the Sides: 925 road projects.

    The next two infractions are from NATIONAL MIRROR of January 19: “Even Dubai ran into trouble (troubled) waters in 2008-2009 when huge debt (a huge debt) forcibly….”

    “The enforcement of that sentence against a teenage mother who had just delivered is certainly regretable.”  On the move: regrettable.

    “…the average journalist usually burns this professional flag, forgets his own humble past once he or she crosses over to the corridor of power.”  Saturday People: corridors of power and this: their humble past once they….

    “The government wants to dump all the dead stadia or sell them off to those who can breathe the breath of life on (into) them.”

    “However, it could be useful to indicate that our research shows that the fortunes of NEXIM moved comfortably between (from) 1990 to 1992 and…”

    “These terminations were made after NEXIM had undertaken screening exercise (must you add ‘exercise’?) both at home and abroad conducted series (a series) of travels, trainings …”

    “Trainings were held yesterday at the sports academy.” Viewpoint: ‘training’ is uncountable.

    “Commissioner wants more vigilante groups” Rutam, hello: vigilance groups.

    “The article was an insult on the Federal Government, the National Assembly and an affront on the ICPC and its competent and hardworking staff.” Justice in service of community: an affront to (not on) the ICPC.  And, of course, an insult to (not on) the FG.

    “For quite sometime (some time) now, the poor and deteriorating condition of public infrastructure….”

    “…especially with respect to public infrastructure, utilities and security of lives and property.” Conscience, Nurtured by Truth: life and property or lives and properties

    “A few weeks ago, there was some news report (a news report) about the involvement of….”

    “…all the major roads in the Eastern part of the country have become pure death traps and for challenging his (President’s) non-challant attitude and doing anything positive in Igbo land.”  Get it right: nonchalant.

    “Clinton, North Korea Minister hold talks” Foreign Affairs: North Korean Minster.

    “…there have been series of polemical attacks of (on) the commission and its activities by an obscure and often fictitious section of the public.”  This way: a (take note) series of polemical attacks.

    “The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces also addressed the nation same evening.”  Get it right: the same evening.

    “Jega apologises over aborted APC convention” To live in truth is to serve: apologise for something or to somebody.

    “The almost impassible (impassable) roads accentuate the usual hectic traffic of motorists, making business transactions in Lagos a herculean task.”

    “…robbers who held residents and commuters to ransome for hours….” Spell-check: ransom.

    “I doff my hat for…” The right mix: I take off or doff my hat to (not for).

    “Out of a lawyers’ population estimated at about 20,000, only five females have been opportuned (opportune) to adorn the silk.”

    “This is another scintillating edition for the matured (mature) mind.”

    “Preponderant of the views aired by the people centre around issues like corruption, unemployment….” Running a true federation: Preponderance…centres….

    “Benue assures on abandoned project” Just tell readers who the state assured.

    “A recent report on food related (a hyphen) ailments show (shows) that in many parts of the world….”

    “Unfortunately, however, I, and many other Nigerians have been infuriated by our servants….” In pursuit of linguistic orderliness: many other Nigerians and I.   The concept of the cart and the horse applies to language usage, too.

    “But all our future blessing would be achieved through waiting in the Lord.”  If you are after God’s heart, you wait on, not in, the Lord.

    “Before embarking on the strike action….” You can as well embark on the ‘strike inaction’!

    “It was as though both informants were mischievous people who had an affinity in (for) discrediting the preacher.”

    “The vigilante group visited instant judgment on the thief and sent him to the great beyond.”  In the name of excellence: vigilance group.

    “Sixteen people were killed and two others seriously injured in a ghastly (fatal) accident which occurred along (on) the Bauch-Auchi road on Saturday.” If there were causalities, it follows that it was a fatal, not a ghastly, accident.  The mishap did not drag along the road, but occurred at a spot on the road.

    “Some of the despotic regimes thrown up in (on) the continent did worse things than was experienced under colonialism.”

    “A weekly magazine took a professional risk and charged the speaker for (with) forgery.”

    “…the same-day election being proposed by the senate as part of the antidote for….” This way: antidote to….

    FEEDBACK

    EVERY electorate or elector? What really heightened the anxiety of every “electorate” (elector/voter/balloter/constituent) was one item on the agenda-whether or not the election should be postponed. (The NEWS, 16 February, 2015).  I know you are scandalized. Not to worry. (BAYO OGUNTUASE, 08056180046)

    A “fact” is something known to be true. If not, it is a falsity or untruth. ‘Undisputed’ in “undisputed fact” in Wordsworth of February 1is unnecessary. Also, The Nation, February1, P. 5, reported that a jet owned by a Nigerian clergy (cleric or clergyman; clergy is plural) was seized in South Africa. (KOLA DANISA, 07068074257)

    MORE reactions next week: Please, I will prefer correspondence via my email. I hardly have time for SMS transcriptions or Bluetooth translations! How was yesterday?

  • Catholic men seek credible polls

    The Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (CMON) has charged Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work towards free and fair elections this month.

    It also appealed to Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to be able to elect credible leaders.

    The national president of the organisation, Dr Adedeji Adebajo, said Nigeria cannot afford anything less than credible polls.

    He urged politicians to avoid inciting and inflammatory statements during campaigns while shunning the do-or-die attitude.

    According to Adebajo: “All we are appealing for is proper election. In other parts of the world, election is the easiest thing but in Nigeria, it has been taken as more or less a do- or- die affair, which should not be.

    “We are appealing to our politicians to be able to accept defeats and congratulate whosoever wins.

    “We also appeal to these titans to please obey to the letter the peace accord they signed recently.”

    He lamented that over 1.5 million Nigerians have been turned to refugees in the nation, charging the federal government to do everything humanly possible to win the ongoing war against terrorism.

    “If only 12 men were killed in France and the entire world could stand for them, then what is happening in Nigeria?

    “Apart from those killed by the insurgents, over 1.5 million Nigerians have been turned to refugees in their own country.

    “We therefore appeal to the federal government to do whatever is necessary to bring the massacre of Boko Haram to an end.

    “Our soldiers are known to be gallant in actions; they won lots of laurels maintaining peace in other countries.

    “We want them to replicate the same in our country so that no part of Nigeria should be lost to any insurgent.”

  • ‘In the circumstance’

    MEND in a statement signed by its spokesman…said it will (would) begin….”

    “The targets are non-Muslims groups.” Existential humanism: non-Muslim groups.

    THE GUARDIAN of February 2 contributed four inaccuracies to this week’s pool of blunders: “Then between 2007 and 2015, Ikot Ekpene senatorial district is on (in) the saddle.”

    “…disclaimed insinuation (an insinuation or insinuations) in some quarters that….”

    “Today, he does not only represent the rare specie (species) of lawyers….”

    THISDAY of February 3 goofed on the late Chinua Achebe twice: “Achebe was accused of being privy to the coup on the ground (grounds) that….”

    “Achebe’s no hold barred (sic) reprimand on the Nigerian nation….” The Achebe story: no-holds-barred reprimand.”

    “The sad story of some communities in Nkanu East Local Government of Enugu State that are literarily (literally) trapped….”

    “I noticed that I stir up this awe whenever I speak in the company of my guys and others.” People: in company with (not of) my guys and others.

    “Be your brother’s keepers….” Fixed expression irrespective of number of people involved: brother’s keeper.

    “Yes, a lot of people like these kind of prophetic books.” This way: this kind/these kinds of people

    “…God was merciful to have kept him for 23 years after the motor accident that confided (confined) him to the wheelchair.”

    “Let your wrist watch speak volume (volumes)”

    “To build capacity through trainings.” ‘Training’ is non-count.

    “This should have been our interactive platform and an income generating (income-generating) website.”

    Please note this: ‘under the circumstance’ is American English while ‘in the circumstance’ is British English. This particular intervention is critical because in their book entitled Correct English, J. E. Metcalfe and C. Astle declared that ‘under the circumstance’ is wrong. But, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (New Edition) published in 2012 confirms the two expressions as correct entries. We should exercise circumspection in our use of the English language and its registers. I prefer ‘in the circumstance’, however.

    National Mirror of January 28 goofed on many occasions right from the two columns on its Views Page to the back page: “…has been as selfish, self serving (self-serving) and attempt (an attempt) by the House to place its members above the electorates they should be accountable to.” The making of invincible legislators: electorates/electors or the electorate (not the electorates). More on this next week….

    “…and absorbs (absolves) them from civil or criminal proceedings….”

    “The same house has (had) attempted in the past to compromise the….” Existential humanism: ‘in the past’ is redundant here.

    “But what is really important is the number of people who turns (turn) new leaves….” Fixed/stock expression: turn a new leaf (irrespective of the number of people).

    “Jonathan, who summoned the service chiefs to Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, was said to have intimated them of (to) the Presidency’s plan….”

    “If traditional media is (are) not able to deliver quality journalism, then who will?”

    “Egypt (Egyptian) court revokes Morsi’s firing of prosecutor”

    “The President then presents the recommendation to the National Council of States (State) for deliberation.”

    “Jonathan, who summoned the service chiefs to the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, was said to have intimated them of (to) the Presidency’s plan.

    The Views Page of National Mirror of January 21 bungled some lines: “…it might afford the country the opportunity to a round table (sic) to regurgitate what grouse each bears against (about) the other (one another).”

    “It was their battle (Niger Delta militants) that awaken (awoke) the consciousness….”

    “I believe in total and comprehensive assessment of a person to determine his/her (their) suitability and overall credibility.”

    “UI students’ union leaders sworn-in (sworn in), seek cooperation”

    “The minister goes on to paint a very laudable picture of the purpose of the First Ladies Peace Mission, rounding up (rounding off) with the battle-cry….”

    THISDAY of January 22 disappointed its numerous readers: “He said the village have (had) never been attacked in the past….”

    “…majority (again, a majority) of them failed woefully (abysmally).”

    “Kagame promises to handover (hand over) Bosco to ICC”

    THISDAY of January 20 underdeveloped the English language: “…who briefed journalists on the company’s field development programme yesterday, in company of (in company with) the vice-chairman….”

    “The victims comprised of four….” Delete ‘of’ in pursuit of reason and truth.

    Still on the editorial: “…stakeholders to put heads together in order to help find lasting solution (a lasting solution) to the security challenges presently facing the nation.” Why not ‘the insecurity facing the nation’?

    “Shareholders of GSK Plc (PLC) has (have) enjoyed a huge….”

    “But GSK need (needs) a more robust fourth quarter to sustain the record-setting bullish run.”

    The final entry from THISDAY: “…where majority (a majority) of the population live (lives)….”

    “Eight Egba chiefs arrested over (for) murder of prince in Ondo”

    “Survivors of suicide bomb attacks recount tales of woes” Kano blasts: tale of woe (fixed/stock expression-plurality notwithstanding)

    “Okopoly rector allays fears over masquerades (masqueraders)”

    “Anambra 2015: PDP supporters on strategic take over (takeover) campaign”

    “Both countries to sign drug control (drug-control) pact”

    ‘With due respect and humility, the above association (Tiddo Yo Daddo Alumni Association) is hereby inviting its esteem (esteemed) and valuable members to the forthcoming general meeting.” Are there invaluable members? And this: ‘With due respect and humility’-what is the essence of this phrase?

    ROBUST AND PROFOUND INTERVENTIONS BY DR. STANLEY NDUAGU, SUNNY AGBONTAEN, KOLA DANISA AND BABA BAYO OGUNTUASE NEXT WEEK, PLEASE!

    Vote for Gen. Buhari this Saturday.

  • Don’t vote based on religious sentiment, Alao warns

    The Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Prophet Dr. Solomon Alao (JP), has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to pardon soldiers sentenced to death on charges of mutiny.

    He said though they have stepped on military rules, the solders should be forgiven in the spirit of national peace.

    Alao, who spoke with reporters, also stated that the church is in the process of starting the proposed Moses Orimolade University (MOU).

    He said: “MOU is the project of all Cherubim and Seraphim churches in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

    “There are indications right now that the first set of students will matriculate this year.”

    The church’s ecumenical centre located at Km 40, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Maba, Ogun State, according to him, is about to be repossessed from land grabbers peacefully.

    On the forthcoming elections, Alao advised Nigerians to avoid religious sentiments while voting.

    “Don’t vote based on tribal and religious sentiments but ask God to help you choose the right leaders,” he charged.

  • World Peace: Religious leaders converge in Australia

    In a bid to end terrors across the world, religious representatives have converged in Australia for a three-day retreat.

    Representatives from: Christian, Anglican, Islam, Buddhism, they were enlightened that as religious leaders, who sermon ideas and philosophy, that they should be aware of their roles and missions.

    The meeting of the religious leaders was on discussion for Peace and Alliance of Religions that convened as another stepping stone for peace. This was a continuation of the work started at the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Summit, which was hosted by Heavenly World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) last September in Seoul, South Korea. The retreat was held in three Australian cities.

    The religious leaders through a video by HWPL Chairman, Man Hee Lee, found out the most trustworthy teaching by comparing every religious book. They were also enlightened that as religious leaders, who sermon ideas and philosophy, that they should be aware of their roles and missions.

    According to Jennifer Lee, host of the meeting: “It is very difficult to talk about what they really have in mind while other religious people are all around you.

    “But as they look at their faces and share about their thoughts more and more, they began to understand each other and found out that actually, most conflicts were happened because religious misunderstanding and got confident that it can be solved,” she concluded.

     

     

  • ‘Flag bearer’? Wrong!

    Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in (on) politics and business”

    “Satellite enabled (Satellite-enabled) wireless GPS tracker debuts (sic)”

    “History was made in Abia State recently, (otiose comma) as a youth emerged the United Democratic Party’s governorship flag bearer (standard bearer) in its just concluded (just-concluded) primaries ahead of the February general election (elections).” 2015 in focus: this is just the first paragraph of a two-column story!

    The next two goofs are from a full-page congratulatory advertorial signed by Alhaji Sahabi Isah Gada, MFR, mni, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sokoto State: “Sokoto State Government: A well deserved (well-deserved) honour”

    “This award is a testament of (to) your good deeds and sterling quality as a leader in the nation (nation’s) politics.”

    “Your Excellency, this award has again unveils (unveiled) your handiwork….”

    “Our supports and prayers shall encompass (really?) you, not only in time like this (at a time like this)….” (Full-page advertorial signed by Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning, Sokoto State) ‘Support’ is uncountable.

    The PUNCH of December 29 circulated a few blunders: “It was gathered that after he did not pick (take) his calls….”

    “Another police source…told our correspondent that he saw him few (a few) days to his death and he was looking healthy.” Looks can be deceptive and looking good outwardly does not necessarily connote sound health.

    “The National Pension Commission is set to prosecute 101 companies for failing to remit the deductions of their workers (workers’) pension contributions to….”

    “Thanking our esteemed clients for more feathers to (in) our cap” (Full-page advertorial by Halogen Security Limited)

    THISDAY PERSPECTIVE of December 22 takes over with two flaws: “Candidates have emerged under (on) the platform of the PDP to fly the party’s flag in the main election.”

    “Reason for this is due to the undisputed fact that….” A rewrite: Reason for this is the undisputed fact that…. ‘Reason’ and ‘due to’ cannot co-function!

    “Moreso (More so), your great business innovative ideas and Solutions (unnecessary capitalization) has (have) singled you out among your equals.”

    “PDP Presidential Campaign Team makes a stop over (stopover) in Owerri…Imo State tommorrow (sic)….” (Full-page advertorial signed by the Directorate of Media and Publicity, Presidential Campaign Organisation)

    “…if the right calibre of running mates were (was) chosen from the very beginning (sic).”

    “We at Bolton White Hotels and Apartments celebrates (sic) and rejoices (sic)….We are proud of you & your contribution (contributions?) to the growth and development of the Nigerians (sic) economy. Keep (Keep up) the good work.”

    “The award is a testament of (to) your commitment to excellent service delivery in the hospitality industry.” (Full-page congratulatory advertorial by Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Limited)

    Have you noticed that most advertorials contain blunders? The next set of gaffes by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State as published in THE GUARDIAN of January 4, 2015, is testamentary to this allusion: “…is not a novice in politics as he has experience (experiences) spanning over 20 years and he knows what the law says about payment of taxes.”

    “As a good citizen of this country (a comma) he has (had) never at any point in his career engaged in tax evasion as his detractors are suggesting.”

    “…the prophets of doom want the world to believe that Dr. Ikpeazu’s tenure i ASEPA was dogged in (by) controversy.”

    “While in ASEPA, Dr. Ikpeazu, a thorough bred (thoroughbred) scientist….”

    “We have emphasized that and want to repeat it over and over again that….” This is a verbal overkill, an asunder: delete ‘again’

    “We have explicit confidence in the credibility and quality of Dr. Ikpeazu as our flag bearer (standard bearer)….”

    “Dr. Ikpeazu is already enjoying wide (a wide) acceptance among the Abia electorate.”

    “…his impeccable character endeared him to the party (party’s) stakeholders who saw him as a good product that would be acceptable to majority (a majority) of of (sic) Abians.”

    Finally from the ludicrous PDP advertorial: “The young man is exuding with energy and enthusiasm to take….” Yank off ‘with’.

    “Court remands Lamido’s son in prison” The court can either ‘remand in custody’ (which means to send someone to prison until trial) or ‘remand on bail’ (which implies allowing a suspect to go free until the trial after leaving a sum of money with the court). Thanks to A. S. Hornby for this insight.

    FEEDBACK

    PLEASE note that we have these egregious errors in our newspapers and magazines because most of our journalists do not have good grounding in the grammaticality of the English language. Besides, we do not have reading journalists-journalists who read on a daily basis. So, you surrender! The rule of the thumb is, do not mix your drink. If you start with British English continue to the end. And if you begin with American English continue to the end. Happily, there are usages that are acceptable on both sides of the Atlantic. (BAYO OGUNTUNASE, 08056180046)

    EBERE, if you think your column is not making any impact, ask the Independent National Electoral Commission, our colleagues and friends of the media about “voter card” now adopted by several local media and available online. For the doubting Thomas, “voter card” is simply the Voter Identity (ID) Card. (US and India) It is similar to the “User Card”. Both ID cards contain your own non-transferable personal details or information. (SUNNY AGBONTAEN, BENIN, 08056162531)

    FROM THE COLUMNIST: Thanks Sunny.

  • ‘My controversial meeting with the president’

    When the invitation to meet President Goodluck Jonathan came to me through some of my friends who are his special aides, I hesitated. I was stunned; and that prompted a soliloquized exclamation, “Why me?” I know that I have been very critical of his government but that was last year. My first piece this year was on Jimi Agbaje. Could it be that Jonathan was trying to intervene on Agbaje’s behalf or was the invitation about himself or what. Questions. Questions. Questions. By the way, Jimi Agbaje is PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State and according to a credible source, he is Jonathan’s darling. The President, I learnt later, loves Agbaje because he was told by those who brought Agbaje to him that he (Agbaje) lost the 2007 elections to Babatunde Fashola because he lacked the resources to fight Bola Tinubu. The President, my source informed  me, told Jimi Agbaje that if he  crossed over to PDP, he would see “real federal money” that would make Tinubu’s wealth look like “change” (insignificant).

    Back to the invitation. In this instance, I did not know what to make of this shocking invitation. Was the President  actually aware of this meeting? But considering how close these aides were to him, I concluded that he must be aware. Having resolved the riddle of the invitation and convinced that it was for real, I decided to call some of my close friends to discuss the issue with them. Though, I had made up my mind to go for the appointment, I only wanted my friends to know of my movement in case they offered me tea at the meeting. Remember Moshood Kahimawo Abiola and the last tea.

    From the pool of friends that I have, I opted for strategic selection, that is, I decided to inform only those with cognate relevance to and experience in what could happen to me. The first and natural person to call was Kunle Ajibade. He was my room mate during our undergraduate and postgraduate days (years) in Ife (Great Ife). However, I did not call him because of room-mate affiliation. I called him because he had been “jailed for life” before by the one and only Sani Abacha. So, in case I found myself dining with prisoners instead of the President, he can offer some advice on solitary forbearance and longsuffering. Next on my list was Kemi Rotimi, a specialsit on Police history and a very close friend of many Inspectors – General of Police, retired and tired. I will need his contacts in case I ended up meeting with the Police instead of meeting with the President.

    The third person I called was Tayo Adesina, a professor of history. I must carry him along so that no aspect of my historical meeting with the President  must be omitted from the books of History. How many people, especially critics of a government, have the privilege of being invited to meet the President of their country. No matter what people think of Goodluck Jonathan, it was still a great honour for me to have a private meting with him. Those who chronicle events for posterity should not be excluded from the process of history. Therefore, Tayo was of strategic value to this unfolding drama of history.

    The last person of course was Segun Ayobolu my regular accomplice in seminal baraza. His job was to mobilize the media community and the public for a “Bring Back Dapo” campaign in case my meeting with the President was a Kidnap plot by agents of government and my friends in the Presidency.

    On the day of the appointment, my friends who arranged the meeting called to remind me of the appointment. In the course of the telephone conversation, I was told that the dress code was at my discretion. The venue of the meeting was never made known to me. I was only told that it would be in Lagos not Abuja. My wife wanted me to go in native and I agreed with her. It was an opportunity for me to wear one of the many agbadas that I rarely wear. At about 8p.m., a call came through from one of those who arranged the meeting that the vehicle that would convey me to the venue was on its way with an armed police orderly. Immediately I heard that, I changed my mind on the dress to wear. I opted for casuals instead of the native earlier chosen – jean, shirt and sneakers – just in case there was need to do some jogging for life from the venue to any of the NADECO routes in Idi-Iroko. Which sensible individual will do a run for his life in flowing gowns? Enough on my pre-meeting rituals and preambles.

    I found myself at the venue. It was a nice duplex that was elegantly furnished. Few security guys were outside the building but they were not heavily armed. Inside the living room, there were two of them in suit. It was the orderly that came with me in the car that ushered me in. He left me in the room with the two security guys. I was frisked but my phones were not taken from me. While I was about to sit on the sofa, one of my phones rang. The call was from one of those who arranged the meeting. He called to inform me that the President would soon be with me. In less than five minutes, the President came in with his two aides who arranged the meeting. The President signaled to the two security guys to exit the room leaving just four of us-The President, myself and his two aides, my own friends. After the normal introductory rituals, the President told me the reason(s) for the special invitation. By the way, I later learnt that the venue of the meeting was one of the President’s hide-outs in Lagos. It is strictly for very personal engagements and activities.

    According to the President, he would like me to tell him the truth about the situations ‘outside’ and what his chances were in the February 14 election. He also wanted to know what the people are saying about him and his style of governance. I looked at my two friends one after the other to be sure that the President meant what he was saying. As if one of them read my mind, he told me to “fell free” to tell the President  the truth but I was stunned when he moved near me to whisper some words into my right ear: “Dapo, please show some respect in your submission and don’t be rude”.

    Respectfully, I stood up to address the President but he politely asked me to sit. I must confess that it took some time before I could decide on what methodology to adopt. I was not even sure if what I needed was methodical approach or the courage to say what I wanted to say bluntly.

    “Mr. President Sir”, I stammered, “it is very hot outside. I am not talking about the atmosphere. Your government is very unpopular and the hunger for “change” is like a revolution against your government. People outside there are tired of your government. Some of them cannot even wait for February 14 to vote you out. The other time, you were glorifying your administration  for raising the ante on participatory democracy. You were of the view that it was your government that sensitized the people on the need to participate in the electoral process hence their clamour for Permanent Voter Card (PVC). At this time, I looked towards my right to see if any of my two friends would code a message of caution to me through body language. Surprisingly, the President was calm. Despite the fact that the room was well lit, I could not read the expression on the President’s face accurately. Well, I took it to mean that the three of them were enjoying my submission despite its unpatrionising delivery.

    I continued: “Sir, if you must know, I thought you were right when you were making that statement on the network news. It was not until I went to collect my PVC that I knew how wrong you were. Most of those who came to collect their PVCs at my own centre were saying it openly that their desperation was provoked by the inaction and cluelessness of your government. That with their PVCs, your government is a ‘goner’ notionally from February 14 and actually on May 29”.

    The President’s disbelief was theoretically paraphrased in his short interjection: “My friend are you sure?” His question energized further acerbic comments from me: “Yes Sir.  I am very sure because I heard them and I saw them. They want you out sharp, sharp”. This time, one of my friends was walking towards me, possibly to caution me, but the President halted his angry strides towards me. With this Presidential gesture, I concluded rightly or wrongly that the President was enjoying my candid presentation. So, I fired on: “Sir, I advise that you tell your men to stop their abusive campaign against Buhari  especially the campaign about his having only WASC and “soldier” certificates. It is not working. People are not interested in what degree Buhari possesses. What they are saying out there is that what progress has the nation made since independence when we been ruled by “Bachelors’ (B.A./B.Sc holders) and “Doctors” (Ph.D holder(s))?

    The President interrupted me: “But if they are saying my men are being sentimental, are the people not being sentimental themselves by overlooking the low educational background of a man that wants to rule a very big and complex nation like Nigeria? Why are they angry with my government on the basis of sentiments? Is it not because they  cannot take me up on issues?

    “Mr.  President”, I took over the discussion, “there are plenty issues people out there have against your government. They question your competence to manage the economy. You have been accused of “complex dependency” on World Bank and IMF rogue economists whose economic policies and ideas are incongruous with domestic realities. These people are conservative theorists who theorise on economic issues forgetting that there should be an alignment between the practicality of their policies and their theoretical variants. Their failure to contextualize their economic ideas within their domestic locale is the major reason the economy has sunk into atrophy”.

    “Sir”, I said, “I will also like you to know that the issue of corruption is also dominant in public discourse. People believe that your administration is guilty of egregious public larceny and prebendal accumulation of public resources. They say that the management of our oil and oil proceeds is lousy, loose, parochial, and culturally primitive ignoring contemporary accounting procedures and violating all known norms of transparency and accountability. This explains why billions and trillions of dollars and naira keep missing  from the nation’s treasury. The Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) has not helped in consolidating our sovereignty rather it has been the formal instrument of providing legitimacy for citizens’ suffering. Sir, all those who stole in your administration have been eased out of your government with cultural fanfare and flighty celebration. Those who are supposed to be languishing in jail for corruption are being celebrated with cultural carnivals and being treated with nauseating heroism. The dirty ones in government are being robbed in the cassock of Saints while the rest of us outside government who are the victims of their massive looting are dressed in the garment of Lucifer”.

    At this stage, the President had started fidgeting on his seat. But I offered no apologies because he told me to tell him the truth no matter how bitter it was. Still, there was no attempt to stop me. None of my friends was ready to do or say anything since the President stopped them earlier from coming near me.

    “Mr. President”, I ignored the mood in the room and continued with my “truthful submission”  “why  was it difficult for you to protect your citizens  from the irresponsible killings and kidnapping going on in some parts of the North by the Boko  Haram?  I must be very frank with you Sir that your handling of the insurgency has been very poor and lakaidaistical. People feel you lack the political will and the professional understanding to confront the insurgents and bring an end to the siege they have laid on the people of the North.

    The most painful aspect of this is your failure to rescue the Chibok girls and visit the people of Chibok to let them know that their children have not been forgotten or abandoned by the government. They wonder how you can sleep soundly, campaign vigorously, smile excitedly, organize wedding ceremony for your own daughter when more than 200 innocent girls are trapped in  the dungeons of the insurgents”.

    As if the issue of the Chibok girls, was a no-go-area, the President stood up dramatically and reluctantly excused himself without disclosing where he was going. I was not sure if that was a signal that the meeting had come to an abrupt end. My two friends went out with him. Nobody told me anything nor did anybody come in to tell me what was happening. Anyway, I was gathering my thoughts on what I would say on the following issues should the President come back to the living room: electricity, unemployment, poverty, education, health, Patience’s impatience with the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa, the President’s visit to Maiduguri, Ayo Fayose’s advert on Buhari’s possible death in office, the collapsing of industries, Abba Sulaiman’s excesses and so on and so forth.

    Unexpectedly, a security chap came into the room to inform me that the President had to attend to other important matters and would not be returning for the meeting. He said he would lead me to my car. I consoled myself that it had been a very rewarding night. But it could have been more rewarding if the drama that happened at the last minute had not occurred.

    The guy who was leading me to the car was carrying a bag, possibly containing some undisclosed “presidential hospitality” contents and was about giving it to me as a gift when somebody ran after him and whispered something into his ears (I don’t know why they are always whispering). Suddenly, the guy with the bag made a u-turn and took the bag back to the house. The “whispering” guy whispered some words into the driver’s ear and before I could say “what about the bag”, the driver took off.

    The setting of the meeting and the “returned bag” were all products of engineered fantasy. The blame for this should go to the terrestrial agents who presented human images in celestial apparitions to an innocent personage in the comfort of his slumbering territory.