Very suspect: Why Lai Mohammed’s grammar is not wrong : by Akeem Lasisi

As part of his defence of the ban on Twitter operations in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a couple of days ago said the social media giant’s mission in Nigeria was very, very suspect. The statement has generated some heat, not in terms of the message it is meant to convey, but in terms of its grammatical status. Simply put, many people believe that Mohammed committed a grammatical blunder. So happy are some of them that they have been circulating it to mock him. Indeed, it has become another raw material for folks who manufacture or reinforce jokes with the likes of ‘There are many mineral resources like Coke and Fanta’, ‘My oga at the top’ ‘There is God o’ and ‘Aye le o, ibosi o.’ The fact, however, is that saying something is suspect does not constitute a blunder. Truly (not truely) speaking, it sounds odd. So odd does it ring that you would think it is an error. That is why one of the comedians who took on the minister tries to correct him by asking, ‘You mean very suspicious?’ No matter how odd the phrase sounds, however, it is a standard one because ‘something is suspicious’ and ‘something is suspect’ are both correct. Of course, apart from having to bear in mind that language is not music that should always sound melodious, there are several ear-jolting expressions like ‘is suspect’. It is the same English that, for instance, says ‘You have to go there now’ that also accepts ‘It is time you went there’ or ‘It is high time you went there’, when the action has yet to take place. It also features ‘Akin and Ade are here’ in one context but insists on ‘Akin as well as Ade is here’ in another. And I hope you remember this too: He goes there regularly. (Correct) I pray he go there tomorrow. (Correct. Not ‘I pray he goes there tomorrow’, because you are now in the court of the subjunctive mood! Back to ‘very, very suspect’. The word, ‘suspect’, is usually a noun or a verb. When it is a noun, it can refer to a person who is alleged to have done something negative, as in committing a crime. When it is a verb, it can, among other usages, express our belief or suspicion about the person concerning the crime: Evans is a suspect in the abduction case. (A noun) The police suspect he is a kidnapper. (A verb) The term can, however, also be used as an adjective, which is what Lai Mohammed has done in the controversial statement. When you say someone’s action or disposition is suspect, it means you believe it harbours another intention beyond what the person says. It could mean that you think it portends a hidden agenda. And, as Cambridge Dictionary puts it, ‘suspect’ as an adjective means not able to be trusted, possibly false or dangerous. Here is an example by the dictionary: I can’t understand why my reasons seem suspect to a number of people. Explaining more, Cambridge Dictionary says if something is suspect, it seems likely to be dishonest, dangerous, criminal etc.: The Financial Services Authority is cracking down on banks and brokers that have failed to report suspect deals by clients. Bomb disposal experts destroyed a suspect package found at the airport. In the examples, the adjectives mostly come before the words they describe, meaning that they are qualifying them (the nouns). But they can also come after such, thus modifying them. Consider this pair too: The agency is monitoring the suspect deals. The agency is monitoring deals that are suspect. There is, therefore, no grammatical error in the minister’s statement. The only thing someone can quarrel about is whether or not Twitter has a hidden agenda as the minister claims, but that is beyond the high court of our grammar class. So, one basic lesson in the Lai Mohammed’s example — I should add — is that when you come across an ‘odd’ or ‘strange’ expression, exercise patience before you say, ‘Ibon’ or dub it a blunder. It may not be. Maybe it is an opportunity for you to learn a new usage. PUNCH.

APC governors pass vote of confidence in party’s interim leadership amid speculation of tenure extension By Samson Adenekan

The APC governors say the CECPC has succeeded in attracting serving and former political office holders to the party. Governors elected under the umbrella of All Progressives Congress (APC) have endorsed the leadership of the party’s national caretaker committee amidst speculation of tenure extension. The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), under the chairmanship of Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, at a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, passed a vote of confidence in Mala Buni-led interim leadership of the party to continue its role in the APC. The governors said the “vote of confidence is imperative to encourage the leadership of the party to continue its strides in piloting her to its next level.” “It would be recalled that the CECPC of the party under the leadership of Governor Buni was put in place to strengthen the ruling party in the face of some challenges. “The Yobe State Governor and his CECPC Committee members have succeeded in attracting serving and former Governors, Senators, House of Representatives members as well as other notable opposition figures to the party. They have also helped in stabilizing the All Progressives Congress and midwife a successful membership drive to make the party the biggest in Africa,” the governors said. The governors’ endorsement of the party’s leadership comes amidst the speculation of a possible tenure extension for the Buni-led committee. Mr Buni, who also doubles as Yobe governor, was appointed to lead a 13-member committee in June 2020 after the controversial dismissal of Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) to end the turbulent crisis rocking the party and set a new tune for its members across the country. Aside from being tasked to reconcile aggrieved members, the APC NEC also mandated the CECPC to organise the party’s national convention where they will select it next crop of leaders in six month time which elapsed in December 2020. The tenure of the committee was extended by another six months due to membership registration and revalidation exercise among other underlying reasons which party leaders assured members would have been concluded by June 2021 for the national convention and congresses to hold as proposed. While the party has not announced the date for the convention in June, sources informed PREMIUM TIMES of another possible tenure extension to set things in motion for a PGF favoured candidate to assume the chairmanship position. Though Mr Buni has denied eying the APC chairmanship after his interim tenure, there are speculations that the party’s governors are rooting for him to retain the seat after his one year interim tenure. This newspaper also gathered that some delegates have been notified and paid ahead of the event.

I believe in devolution of power, says Buhari by Segun Adewole

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, said he believes in devolving power to the people. He, however, said the contentious issue of restructuring, true federalism or devolution of powers remains a constitutional matter which can only be dealt with by the National Assembly. This was disclosed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Friday. According to Adesina, Buhari said this when he received members of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) led by Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, at the State House in Abuja. At the meeting, the President said, “On the contentious issue of restructuring or true federalism or devolution of powers, like you all know, this is a constitutional matter with which only the National Assembly can deal. “I remain an unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people and that is why I signed the Executive Order granting autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary. Unfortunately, this was met with some resistance at the state level and led to a more than two months strike action that has cost the country a lot of pain. “Luckily the National Assembly has nearly completed the constitutional review process, which I hope would address some of the burning issues agitating the minds of our people.’’ Adesina, in the statement, said, “President Buhari assured that efforts were already on to create a more conducive environment to address both direct and indirect causes of challenges including areas of job creation and employment generation while appreciating religious leaders for their significant roles in national development, particularly in shaping perspectives.” He quoted Buhari as saying, “Your role is critical in putting the correct perspective out to Nigerians.’’ Adesina said Buhari assured “the religious leaders that the government was already going after financiers of criminal elements, who also supply them with arms, but were constrained by the strike by Judiciary workers.” “Fortunately, this strike has been called off and prosecution of some of these people would soon commence, while our security agencies expand their network in closing in on the others,’’ he quoted Buhari. He said Buhari assured that his regime remains committed to “quickly pushing this dark side of our history behind us and we are currently making sure that funding would not hamper our efforts.’’ According to the President, the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved some funds for the security agencies, which would be put to judicious use. “As I mentioned yesterday, in Lagos, we would not relent in our efforts at clearing these criminals from all parts of our land including the forests,’’ Buhari said. The President said the government had the major part to play in providing security, “but besides the imperative to abide by democratic processes is the important aspect of support of the citizenry to the security agencies by providing relevant and timely information.’’ “I must confess that I am more pained than anyone can imagine with the ongoing security challenges because, like you noted during your meeting, they have increased the hunger, pain and anger in the land,’’ he noted. The President thanked the religious leaders for their patriotism and commitment to ensuring peace and understanding. “I have listened to you and I am particularly happy that your meeting clearly identified specific and major roles for both the Government and the people of Nigeria. This is what has been lacking for some time in the national discourse on addressing our current security challenges,” he said.

EXCLUSIVE: EFCC Recovers N1 Billion From Permanent Secretary Working Directly With Works And Housing Minister, Fashola BY SAHARAREPORTERS

Bawa had in May while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance said the agency recovered over N1 billion from the bank account of a civil servant. The civil servant the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered N1 billion from has been identified as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. Babatunde Fashola is the Minister in charge of the ministry. EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa had in May while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance said the agency recovered over N1 billion from the bank account of a civil servant. “It is good for us to observe for now and wait for your committee to conclude its work so that whatever report you have and anyone that your committee decides, we are ready to take it up from there,” he had said. SEE ALSO How We Recovered Over N1billion From A Civil Servant In One Week—EFCC Chairman 28 Comments 4 Weeks Ago “We have recovered over N1 billion sitting in the account of a civil servant last week.” Bawa however refused to mention the name of the individual civil servant. Speaking to SaharaReporters on Thursday, a source at the anti-graft agency identified the civil servant as a Permanent Secretary working with Fashola. “The civil servant the chairman was talking about is the Permanent Secretary working directly with Fashola,” the source said.

High-profile Nigerians threaten to kill me, says EFCC boss Bawa by Kayode Oyero

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, says corruption does fight back, adding that he has been receiving death threats since he came on board as the chairman of the anti-graft agency. He spoke on Tuesday when he featured in Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme monitored by The PUNCH. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had in November 2016 said, “Corruption is fighting back vigorously”. When asked on Tuesday if indeed corruption is fighting back, Bawa said, “Last week, I was in New York, as all Nigerians are aware of. A very senior citizen received a phone call from somebody that is not even under investigation. What he (the caller) said to him on phone is that; he is going to kill the EFCC chairman, the young man.

“He said, ‘I am going to kill him. I am going to kill him’. This is to tell you how bad it is. It is actually real. Corruption can fight back.” When further asked if he meant he has been receiving death threats, the EFCC chairman said, “Yes”. The President had in February 2021 named 40-year-old Bawa as the new EFCC chairman to replace the embattled ex-acting chairman of the anti-graft commission, Ibrahim Magu.

Twitter suspension: Lawyer sues Lai Mohammed, Malami as courts resume by Eniola Akinkuotu

A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the Federal Government for suspending social media platform, Twitter. In the originating motion marked FHC/L/CS/542/2021, Effiong is seeking nine reliefs including an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further suspending, deactivating or banning the operation and accessibility of Twitter or any other social media service in Nigeria. Effiong asked the court to declare as illegal the threat of criminal prosecution issued by Malami and Mohammed against Nigerians who ‘violate’ the suspension or ban of Twitter, despite the absence of any written law. The activist asked the court to declare that the act of the respondents in “suspending the operation and accessibility of Twitter in Nigeria without any written law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society enabling the said suspension is unconstitutional, unjustifiable, undemocratic, arbitrary, null and void and amounts to a violation of the right of the applicant and other Nigerians to use Twitter for expression, reception of information and impartation of ideas and is therefore contrary to Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9 L.F.N. 2004. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.” In his supporting affidavit, Effiong, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the African Action Congress and Co-Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, said he was an active Twitter user since 2021 and currently has 45,500 Followers and follows 13, 600 accounts on the platform including dozens of accounts of broadcast stations in the country. The activist stated that as a public affairs commentator, he uses Twitter to express his views on the failure, inadequacies and performance of the government at all level, including the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies. Buhari’s tweet was considered offensive by many Nigerians who flagged it and reported it to Twitter. The lawyer said Twitter subsequently deleted the President’s comment, a move that led to the suspension of Twitter days later. Effiong said it was a known fact that every Twitter user had agreed to abide by the rules of the platform before being allowed to use it. He said the decision of the respondents to suspend Twitter have gravely “infringed on my freedom of expression and that of broadcast stations and other Nigerian citizens who depend and rely daily on Twitter for information, expression and impartation of ideas. This has caused me emotional trauma and distress and limited my capacity to connect with the global community.”

Twitter’s founder, Dorsey, liable for #EndSARS losses – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government says Twitter and its founder, Jack Dorsey, are vicariously liable for the losses the country suffered during the EndSARS protest. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Tuesday when he featured on “Politics Nationwide,’’ a Radio Nigeria call-in programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja. Mohammed alleged that Dorsey raised funds through Bitcoins to sponsor the EndSARS protest while his platform, Twitter, was used to fuel the crisis. He said when he made the allegations earlier, Nigerians did not take him seriously until an online media outfit carried out an investigation and fact-checking. The minister said the online publication confirmed that Dorsey retweeted some of the posts by some of the coalitions supporting the EndSARS protest. He said it was also confirmed that the Twitter founder launched fundraising asking people to donate via Bitcoins. The minister said Dorsey further launched Emoji to make the EndSARS protest visible on the microblogging site. He said Dorsey also retweeted the tweets of some foreign and local supporters of EndSARS. “If you ask people to donate money via bitcoins for EndSARS protesters then you are vicariously liable for whatever is the outcome of the protest. “We have forgotten that EndSARS led to the loss of lives, including 37 policemen, six soldiers, 57 civilians while property worth billions of naira were destroyed. “164 police vehicles and 134 police stations were razed to the ground, 265 private corporate organisation were looted while 243 public property were looted. “81 warehouses were looted while over 200 brand new buses bought by Lagos State Government were burnt to ashes,’’ he said. The minister said it was unfair to conclude that the operation of Twitter was suspended indefinitely because it deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s message. He said the government was unambiguous that the action was taken because the platform was being used to promote the views of those who wanted to destabilise the country. Mohammed added that Twitter consistently offered its platform to promote agenda that were inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria. “Twitter has become a platform of choice for a particular separatist promoter. “The promoter consistently used the platform to direct his loyalists to kill Nigerian soldiers and policemen, run down INEC offices and destroy all symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty. “Every attempt to persuade Twitter to deny its platform to this separatist leader was not taken serious,’’ he said. The minister said the Federal Government has no apology to offer to those unhappy over the suspension of Twitter’s operations in the country. He said a country must exist in peace before people could exercise freedom of speech and fight for a source of livelihood. (NAN)