Author: user user

Sample 1: ‘Apparently referring to recent newspaper publication that he was being haunted by the EFCC over an alleged involvement in over N8 billion scam and that he was one of the outgoing governors… He boasted that in the last four years, his government had undergone various developmental projects aimed at improving the living standard of the people of the state in line with the 13-point agenda of his administration’ (I’ll Go Mad If I See N8 billion – Akala, The Daily Sun, May 19, 2011).

I draw readers’ attention to the word haunted which occurs in the clause, ‘he was being haunted by the EFCC’. Clearly, the word haunted is used in confusion with hunt, two superficially similar but hardly semantically related words. To hunt a person or animal is to pursue it with the aim of hurting or killing the person or animal. Illustrations: (1) Armed with guns and cutlasses, the team went hunting antelopes. (2) The cow went wild and two Fulani men were paid to hunt it down. (3) Many people have claimed that the EFCC was created to hunt down the former president’s political enemies. (4) The kid was busy in the garden hunting butterflies. (5) It should have been clear to everybody that the US would hunt down its most wanted enemy. (6) The scientist did not rest until he had hunted out the specie of his dream.

On the other hand, the verb haunt basically has to do with a ghost appearing in or troubling a place. There is also the metaphorical extension of the word: (1) Haunted by her past, Janet would often become moody so that her husband would wonder whether he had hurt her in any way. (2) Successive occupiers of the building have one story or the other to tell about it being haunted by the ghost of the late landlord. (3) The conscience has been described as a ‘policeman’ that hunts and haunts every man who has done something evil which is not known to his neighbour. (4) That dreadful experience haunted me for years until I sought spiritual deliverance. (5) The Doctor was haunted by a major error he had committed in the course of the surgical operation.

From those illustrative sentences, it should be clear that the word required in the context is not haunted but hunted: ‘he was hunted by the EFCC’

Next, we consider the word undergone which occurs in the context, ‘his government had undergone various development projects’. The form undergone is the past participle of the verb undergo, a word that is definitely not appropriate in the context. If a person or thing undergoes an experience, he has that experience. Can we say with intelligence, as the reporter has said, that ‘his government had undergone various developmental projects’? If we said this, we would suggest quite inanely that the government itself had had an experience called ‘developmental projects’.

The only way we can help the writer to make sense is to replace the word undergone with undertaken. Yes, when you undertake (yes, undertaken is the past participle of undertake) a task or project, you engage in it. To have a real grasp of the usage of each of the words (undertake and undergo), we illustrate their respective usage. First, undergo: (1) Our country has undergone remarkable changes in the last ten years of democratic experience. (2) All the patients are required to undergo specific tests before they can see the Doctor. (3) Having undergone surgical operations twice, the woman is not expected to have her next baby without surgery. (4) Workers who have not undergone further training since they joined the company are not entitled to promotion beyond the last step of their present positions. (5) Anyone who has undergone spiritual transformation would know what it means to have a special experience of God. (6) All the operations of the company have undergone different degrees of change since the beginning of this year.

Now undertake: (1) (1) Five new projects are being undertaken by the new administration. (2) The contractor said he was not ready to undertake any job for which no advance payment was made. (3) Before undertaking the mission, the terrorist gang, we are told, had trained for years somewhere in the US. (4) The Governor said he was not willing to undertake new projects because of shortage of funds. (5) Let’s not undertake that job if we are not sure of completing it. (6) Having undertaken the production of three plays, the director seems reluctant to undertake the production of a fourth one.

At any rate, the clause should read, ‘his government had undertaken various developmental projects’.

SAMPLE II

‘It was gathered that the number of corps members in the worship centre increased to 50 when some of their colleagues living elsewhere rushed to the NCCF secretariat to seek refuge from the crisis that erupted in some parts of the town, unknown to them that they were potential victims of the dastard act of the irate youths. The Family House of the NCCF, a fellowship centre and a lodge for the Christian corps members, was one of the seven worship centres touched by the youth…’ (Presidential Poll: 5 Corps Members Escape Death, The Daily Sun, April 20, 2011).

First, we examine the status of the word dastard which occurs in the context, ‘victims of the dastard act’. Let us point out immediately that the word dastard is not an English word. Or rather, it is a truncated English word. The word whose identity we are sure of is dastardly. We may be able to guess what has happened to this word and the process that led to it.

Having encountered the word dastardly, and having no engagement with it beyond sighting it in a ‘light’ reading material, the reporter must have mistaken it for an adverb – what with its final -ly. It is true that most English adverbs end in -ly, but it is not all words that have a final ly that are adverbs. To be sure, the word dastardly is not an adverb but an adjective, notwithstanding its obvious -ly ending.

What we guess the reporter has done is to clip the final -ly of the word as a way of reducing it to its adjectival form – dastard, a non-existent word in English. It should not be difficult to imagine that the reporter would have used the form dastardly as an adverb if the opportunity had offered itself in the course of writing his report.

A similar error is committed by some people when they employ the word orderly, mistaking its final -ly for evidence of adverb. Since this has received adequate attention last week, we would not discuss it further. As we have pointed out, the word dastardly is an adjective and its usage is illustrated as follows: (1) The man raped a six-year-old girl, and the NGO has sworn that he will pay for the dastardly act. (2) Those who were involved in the dastardly act of burning the houses of their political enemies will not go unpunished. (3) The dastardly murder was committed when the victim had no reason to suspect that any evil was planned against him. (4) Nothing can excuse that dastardly revenge, not even the fact that the woman has hurt him so much. (5) The law does not seem to make sufficient provision for such dastardly misdeeds.

At any rate, the word dastardly should replace dastard in the context under examination: ‘victims of the dastardly act’.

Finally, I urge readers to note the word touched which occurs in the context, ‘one of the seven worship centres touched by the youth’. Readers are to note that this word is used in the context of arson. Is the word touched the appropriate one in the context? Certainly not.

It is obvious that this word – touch – is used in confusion with torch. When houses, cars, etc are burnt deliberately, we say they are torched. The word touch is about physical contact, torch is about burning.

At any rate, the word torched should replace touched in the context under examination.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, have described renowned Ifa priest and Yoruba cultural icon, Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, as a priceless custodian of African heritage whose contributions have continued to elevate Yoruba culture on the global stage.

The two leaders made the remarks during activities marking Elebuibon’s birthday and housewarming ceremony held at his Ogbeyonu House in Osogbo, where they separately commended his decades-long commitment to preserving and promoting Yoruba tradition.

Speaking at the event, Oyebamiji said Elebuibon’s vast knowledge of African spirituality, customs and history has made him an invaluable figure not only to the Yoruba people but to the entire African continent. He noted that personalities like the celebrated cultural ambassador deserve greater recognition for their role in preserving indigenous values.

The APC governorship candidate also called for increased investment in Osun’s tourism sector, stressing that the state possesses enormous cultural and historical assets capable of generating substantial revenue and creating employment opportunities if properly developed.

According to him, iconic sites such as the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Ayekunnugba Waterfall, Erin-Ijesa Waterfalls, the Ifa Temple, Oranmiyan Staff and several other heritage locations have the potential to transform Osun into a leading cultural tourism destination.

Representing Governor Adeleke at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr. Biyi Odunlade, described Elebuibon as a globally respected authority on Yoruba culture and traditions whose influence has brought international recognition to the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Odunlade said the Adeleke administration considers the traditional scholar a valuable cultural ambassador and remains committed to initiatives that will position Osun as a major centre for the promotion of African culture and tourism.

He added that the government would continue to support efforts aimed at preserving the state’s cultural identity while showcasing its heritage to the international community.

In his response, Elebuibon attributed his global recognition to his unwavering dedication to the Yoruba religion, culture and traditions, urging governments at all levels to give greater attention to Nigeria’s cultural resources.

He said the country’s rich cultural heritage remains one of its greatest untapped economic assets, stressing that deliberate investment in the preservation, branding and promotion of indigenous traditions would attract international tourists and stimulate economic growth.

The renowned cultural enthusiast further called on stakeholders to work together in projecting Nigeria’s cultural identity to the world, saying the nation’s heritage should be presented as a unique attraction capable of boosting tourism and enhancing its global image.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of creating the impression that ‘some victims of insecurity matter more than others,’ and demanded timelines for the rescue of 176 residents abducted from Woro community in Kaiama, Kwara State, who have remained in captivity since February 3, 2026.

Speaking on Sunday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the President’s celebration of recent rescues in Oyo State has raised questions about the fate of victims still being held in Kaiama, Borno, Zamfara and other parts of the country.

‘The African Democratic Congress is concerned by what is becoming an unmistakable pattern in the Tinubu administration’s response to insecurity: some victims receive swift presidential attention, while others are left to languish in silence,’ the statement said.

‘Every successful rescue of abducted Nigerians deserves to be celebrated. But the President must ensure that his actions do not create the impression that the value of a Nigerian life depends on where the victim comes from or whether the tragedy attracts national headlines. Leadership demands equal compassion for every citizen, because no country can build national unity on the basis of selective empathy and selective attention.’

‘On Friday, July 24, 2026, residents of Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State staged a peaceful protest over the fate of 176 residents of Woro community abducted on February 3, 2026.

‘More than 170 days later, their families are still asking the same questions: Where are their loved ones? What has the government done? When should they expect them home? Their protest was not political. It was the cry of citizens who fear that their loved ones have been forgotten,’ the ADC said.

The party also cited fresh incidents of insecurity: the recent abduction of no fewer than 40 residents from 11 communities in Mayanchi District, Maru LGA, Zamfara, mostly women and children; attacks in Benue’s Sankera axis on July 24; and the early hours of Sunday abduction of Kebbi State High Court Judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza.

It added that communities in Borno continue to endure insurgent attacks and mass displacement.

‘These are not isolated incidents. They are reminders that insecurity remains a daily reality for millions of Nigerians.’

Following the public celebration of the rescue of abductees in Oyo State, the ADC asked: ‘What is the status of those still being held elsewhere? What progress has been made in securing the release of the 176 abductees from Kaiama? What is being done to rescue the women and children taken in Zamfara? What efforts are underway to secure the release of Justice Bunza? What updates are available on victims in Borno and other affected communities?’

‘The President owes Nigerians more than broad assurances. He owes them regular updates, timelines and evidence that no Nigerian community has been abandoned.’

The party referenced President Tinubu’s assurance on Thursday, July 23, 2026, that insecurity in the North would soon end.

‘We sincerely hope that promise becomes reality. But hope cannot survive indefinitely on declarations alone. There comes a point when repeated assurances, unaccompanied by visible results, cease to reassure. They simply become another headline in a long cycle of official optimism and public disappointment.’

‘That is why many Nigerians no longer receive presidential statements on insecurity with the confidence they once did. The administration has become remarkably consistent in making reassuring pronouncements but far less convincing in delivering outcomes. On one of the defining challenges of this government, the President is increasingly seen as a professional statement-maker, while communities continue to bury their dead, search for the missing and wait for rescues that never seem to come.’

The ADC called on President Tinubu to demonstrate through action that every Nigerian life carries equal value.

‘The people abducted in Woro on February 3 matter. The women and children abducted in Mayanchi, Zamfara matter. The families living under siege in Borno matter. The victims of fresh attacks in Benue matter. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza matters. They deserve the same urgency, the same empathy and the same presidential attention that every rescued Nigerian rightly receives. Leadership is not measured by how quickly government celebrates a rescue; it is measured by whether no Nigerian is left behind or forgotten.’