SAMPLE 1: “For Osundare a Professor of English and a renowned poet, this is the time for both the leadership and followership in Nigeria and Africa to look at those sensitive issues to help the societies move on to the next level. (A Grand Narrative on National Unity, The Nation, Sunday, October 9, 2016)
Let’s note the word followership which occurs in the following context: “the time for both the leadership and followership in Nigeria.” The point has been made in this place that the lexeme followership is unknown in English. That point is being reiterated today. .” The word followership, formed on the analogy of such words as leadership, stewardship, fellowship, kinship, and relationship, does not exist in the English lexicon. It is one of those lexical formations based on morphological misconceptions, realities now coalescing into what is commonly but mistakenly called ‘Nigerian English’. Is Nigerian English a mishmash of errors and accidental formations and ignorance-induced neologisms?
At any rate, the form followership is the Nigerian version of the word following, meaning a group of followers. Now read the following sentences: 1) Any political party that has a following among the youth is likely to win the election. 2) The politician’s following is largely in the rural areas. 3) He does not enjoy as much following among men as he does among women. 4) The limited following we have in the city is due mainly to the influence of our political enemy. 5) What money creates is a following that is dubious in its commitment and loyalty. 6) M. K. O. Abiola recorded such a resounding victory at the polls because of the huge following he had cultivated in all parts of the country. 7) A politician’s success is measured by the size of his following among young men and women. 8) The young musician has a large following among lovers of vulgar music. 9) His following in this part of the country has reduced drastically due to the scandals and bad press. 10) Jesus was not bothered by the small following he had in Israel during His earthly ministry.
Sample 2: “According to him, the demands of the workers cannot be met for now as there are no budgetary provisions for it yet.”(Drama as Lagos Poly Workers Down Tools, The Nation, Sunday, October 23, 2016)
I draw readers’ attention to the word their which occurs in the following context: “theirare no budgetary provisions.” The writer, in a momentary or more entrenched ignorance, has been unable is distinguish between the lexemes there and their. The error is scandalous.
Now let’s illustrate the difference between the words there and their. Please read the following sentences: 1) There are many more people outside the hall than inside. 2) There is no wisdom in that suggestion. 3) There were rumours that the president had another woman in his life. 4) There is no reason to leave so early since the programme is scheduled to commence late in the afternoon. 5) There were many undercover security men snooping around. 6) There was no truth in the story. 7) Neither the chairman nor the secretary was there. 8) I was able to pick some useful information here and there. 9) How soon will you be there? 10) I was there waiting for you for almost three hours.
For the proper usage of the word their, please read the following sentences: 1) Their house is not far from ours. 2) The ancient Jews and their forefathers are part of the heroes of the Christian faith. 3) Their lawyers are holding a meeting with our own lawyers next week. 4) Sadly, their plan is to destroy their opponents’ business interests. 5) I find it difficult to understand why they could not mind their business. 6) Their directors are planning to reduce the workforce. 7) It is not their duty to tell us how to run our own affairs. 8) Their students are not even half as brilliant as our own. 9) Their house is directly opposite the bank. 10) How can our failure be a reason for their celebration?
The following sentences each contain the two words under consideration: 1) Were you not there when their thugs attacked our chairman? 2) It is their fault that their representatives were not there when the case started. 3) There were a few men at the meeting who claimed to be representing their bosses’ interest. 4) A lady went there, met the children, claimed be their mother’s friend and took some money from them. 5) I was there when our president visited that country and said something positive about their political system.
At any rate, the phrase should read: “there are no budgetary provisions.”
Sample 3: “For Mojisola Obasanjo to have continually insulted and disgraced her family in the public is not in line with Yoruba culture.”(That Interview by Remi Obasanjo, The Sun, Sunday, March 13, 2016)
We note the expression, “in the public,” paying special attention to the definite article, the.
In effect, we can infer from the writer’s choice of the expression that we can do things in the public; people can sell goods in the public; events cantake place in the public; people can hold a conversation in the public,a family can be disgraced in thepublic,etc
Let us note immediately that this is an inappropriate expression, and the error is to be found in a single word – the intrusive definite article, the. Please note that events do not take place in the public; they take place in public. The presence or absence of a single word can compromise the integrity of what otherwise should be an idiomatic expression. In this particular case, the offending word is the definite article the which, as we have noted, is intrusive. Please read the following sentences: (1) Such declarations cannot be made in public. (2) Preaching inpublic is not allowed in some countries. (3) Going nude in public is not only morally offensive, it is totally illegal. (4) The man and the woman were arrested for having sex in public. (5) Such matters are better not discussed in public. (6) If you have anything to sell, come and advertise it in public. 7) Family affairs should not be discussed in public. 8) Should a man scold his wife in public?
Readers should please note the fact that the expression used in each of those six sentences is devoid of the intrusive the noted in the erroneous expression. The sentences illustrate the appropriate usage of the expression.
On the other hand, the expression, members of the public or simply the public refers to people generally, the ordinary or common people: (1) We should do nothing to offend the sensibilities of members of the public. (2) The mood of the public is extremely delicate now. (3) It is important to pay attention to the opinion of the public. (4) Our services are available to members of the public. (5) Members of the public should have an interest in the way they are governed. (6) Whether you are a politician or a public officer, you cannot insult the public and go away with it. 7) Members of the public are stake-holders in the affairs of the nation. 8) It is improper for the government to deceive members of the public on this scandal.
and then