Intellectual Violence

Expression By Ebere Wabara

THE NATION of June 27 lied while defending our freedom: “…the six governors seemed to have taken the bull by the horn.” Truth: horns.

“Eight arrested in Bauchi over (for) attempt to bomb church” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Online, June 27)

DAILY INDEPENDENT of June 24 disseminated three goofs: “To assume a wider role, the Euro will have to first of all flourish in (on) the continent and survive….”

“The sensible caveat placed at the onset (outset) is now hunting or is it hurting the Euro?” There is a world of difference between ‘onset’ and ‘outset’.

“Those at the forefront in ECOWAS should start by doing the little things first before going for the big bang.” ‘Bang’ does not need any amplification as it is already a loud sound. 

“The Igbo cultural war dancers at (on) the occasion” (Vanguard, June 24)

“Wade’s tenure extension chicanery was an affront on (to) the Senegalese 2001 Constitution….” 

“Contrary to what Sanusi may want us to see, critical (a critical) analysis of his activities show (shows) a resourceful….”

“…enlightened and superior intelligence with regards to public or political questions.” Another form of intellectual violence: with regard to or as regards.

“Nigeria, China trade hit (hits) $10b”

“Investment into power without right tariff difficult—NERC” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, June 23) Business: investment in (into) power….

“The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) said on Tuesday that the fate of banks are now in the hands of their shareholders.” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Business, June 17) No commercialese: the fate of banks is (not are). 

“The testimony of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former CSO to late General Sani Abacha….” A fox and his bagful of yarns: former CSO to the late General Sani Abacha. 

“The corporation said it is (was) determined to protect depositors by all means.” (THISDAY, June 15)

“Food crop production has declined rapidly and this is largely attributable to soil despoilation….” Frequent oil spills in the Niger Delta axis: despoliation.  

“Money speaks, we will interprete” Spell-check: interpret.

“Anxiety over Nnamdi Kanu’s health hightens” This way: heightens.

“He said the taking over of these banks by AMCON will (would) not….” (Source: as above) Yet another Business English (commercialese)! 

“The boys who were to kill us started fighting themselves” (Nigerian Tribune, June 14) This way: The boys fought one another (not themselves). Except, of course, they were on a suicide mission!

“English Premiership kicks-off in grand style August” (THE GUARDIAN, June 13) This is incongruent with flagship journalism: inclusion of hyphen in phrasal verbs!

“Banks nationalization: Accusing fingers point at regulators” (SATURDAY TRIBUNE, June 22) A rewrite: Banks’ (take note of the apostrophe) nationalization: The finger points at regulators

“Adanma who is based in the United States and works as a medical personnel….” (Source: as above) ‘Personnel’ is a collective noun and cannot function as used. Get it right: a medical official, employee, worker, service provider, assistant, hand… 

“President Bola Tinubu has warned that forceful takeover of power through coup d’etats will no longer be tolerated….” (THE GUARDIAN, June 12) Conscience, nurtured by truth: coups d’ etat.

“Otti mourns late Hausa leader” (DAILY INDEPENDENT, June 12) The governor couldn’t have mourned someone who was alive! So, he mourns Hausa leader.

“Veteran golfers converge at Ikeja club” (Source: as above) Let’s go golfing as we converge on Ikeja Club.

“…maintained that Ojukwu was hale and healthy (hearty) in a far away (far-away) London hospital.” (THE GUARDIAN, June 11) Memorial: may the soul of Ikemba Nnewi continue to rest in peace (not ‘perfect peace’, please).

Nigerian TRIBUNE of June 11 circulated two embarrassing errors: “…even foreigners who should ordinarily be living in utmost circumspection have the effrontory and confidence to dupe Nigerians and even kill them.” No lexical quackery: effrontery.

“We shudder to imagine how many of these foreigners are involved in various forms of criminality which the lax security system of the state have (has) permitted.” 

“He will do it well, but if you give it to a mediocre….” People and Power: a mediocrity or mediocrist. ‘Mediocre’ is an adjective.

“FRSC records 180 causalities in Kogi” Spell-check: casualties.

“Customs seize N25bn goods” (THE PUNCH, June 10) Customs seizes.

“She argued that a pact such as is being advocated for by the lawmakers amounted to Nigeria’s re-orientation.” Remove ‘for’.

“I searched in vain for the Ministry of Defence and, unless the text I had was defective, it was conspicuously absent.” ‘Absence’ does not require any qualification.  Simply, it was absent.

“His Excellency…Ambassador Extraordinary (Extraordinaire) and Plenipotentiary….”

“In fact, the situation has degenerated from that of epileptic power supply down to that of complete blackout which in most cases lasts from weeks to months.” ‘Blackout’ does not need any modifier—it means total extinction or concealment of lights. 

“The reasons range from power generation limitation to the use of overaged (overage), antiquated and arsenic hydro-terminal plants and so many others too numerous to mention.” Agreed that ‘overage’ means ‘too old’ (used mostly for human beings), but for contextualization and language grasp, ‘obsolete’ (for inanimate things) should have been it.

“Many people have lost their household properties as a result of uncontrolled power voltage.” Time to remove the immunity of PHCN: property (not properties) in this context.

“The consensus of opinion in the country today.…”  Despite the pockets of debate on what some learner’s dictionaries say, I insist on consensus (without opinion, which is optional anyway).

“It is also an open secret that a cabal of highly placed sacred cows holds the fuel distribution process in the country to ransome.“ Spell-check: ransom.

“Council chairmen and legislators at the council, state and federal levels would also later be sworn-in (sworn in) for the take off (take-off) of the Ninth Republic.” Again, phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation.

“The Yorubas, Igbos and even Northern minorities have grudges….” English is no politics: the Yoruba, the Igbo and the Northern minorities.

“Except round pegs are put in round holes, the nation will be the looser (loser) for it.”

“It is arguable if the current spate of advancement (advancements) recorded in the area of….”

“Thank God he is concerned at (about/for/over/in—depending on context—never at) the security situation.”

“There were other ministers in the last dispensation who performed creditably well, but who were not re-appointed.” Get it right: ministers who performed creditably or well. ‘Creditably well’ is an over-kill. Both cannot co-function.