Tinubu wanted to say the right thing but succumbed to the wrong version -By Azuka Onwuka

During his press conference on his presidential ambition, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was almost saying the correct thing: “I have informed the President”. He had already gone as far as saying “I have informed the Pres… ” when the Nigerian bug bit him and he suddenly changed it to the wrong expression: “I have informed Mr President”.

Why is it wrong?

For you to address someone holding an official position as “Mr President” or “Madam Prime Minister” or “Mr Chairman” or “Madam Speaker” or “Madam Governor”, you MUST be addressing the person directly like someone who is in front of you.

Examples:
Thank you, Mr President, for honouring our invitation.
Madam Speaker, I am passionate about this Bill because it affects the lives of pregnant women.
Welcome to our hostel, Mr Vice Chancellor.

But when you are only referring to the person like someone who is not present, you should not add “Mr” or “Madam” to the person’s office.

Examples
I have informed the President of my intention to run for president.
We thank the President for honouring our invitation.
I made it clear to the Speaker that I am passionate about this Bill because it affects the lives of pregnant women.
We welcome the Vice Chancellor to our hostel.

Sadly, because many do not understand this, they assume that using the term “Mr President” is simply a sign of respect and honour to that office; so they use it inappropriately. And because influencers use it wrongly, others copy it and also use it wrongly. That way, the wrong expression sticks. That was how wrong expressions like “between you and I” and “dabble into politics” and “wrestle power” became popular particularly in Nigeria.

Learning is a never-ending venture and nobody ever knows it all.

Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well, whether it is English or Igbo or Yoruba or Hausa or French or Spanish or sweeping or driving. That is the route to excellence.