It is in place to extend my felicitations (not, felicitation) to the citizenry of Nigeria over a peaceful and successful transmission of democratic power. For starters, the Buhari administration (or “Buhari’s administration”, not “the Buhari’s administration”) must be commended for doing its best because governance at that level is not child’s play (note that “child’s play” should not be preceded by the article “a”). Even if the administration did not deliver the Nigeria of our dreams (not, dream), it performed to the best of its ability.
Moving on, we must appeal to all politicians and their followers to let bygones be bygones (not, bygone be bygone) and come together towards achieving national development. While it is appropriate for other candidates to go to court if they suspect foul play (not, a foul play; foul play is a non-count noun), the interest of the nation must still be borne in mind.
Supporters of the different candidates in the last presidential election should please let sleeping dogs lie (not, let the sleeping dog lie). On top of that, political commentators should not add fuel to the fire (not, add fuel to fire) with negative comments that are capable of heating the polity up.
If the country must grow in/by leaps and bounds (not, in/by leap and bound; note that both “in” and “by” are permissible prepositions in the idiom), then it must be all hands on deck (not, all hands on desk) for all Nigerians. Our positive attitude and optimism, as citizens, will pave the way (not, pave way) for the Nigeria we all desire. We, thus, should all embrace peace and unity, and not insist that it has to be a fight to the finish (not, a fight to finish).
At this point, I congratulate a man who has paid his dues (not, due) and waited his turn (not, waited for his turn). His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), must immediately get to work as the job before him is indeed a taxing (not, tasking) one.
The president must take the bull by the horns (not, take the bull by the horn) and be ultimately concerned about delivering the dividends of democracy on the doorstep of every Nigerian (not, to the doorstep). The head of state should know that he has no option but to (not, than to) fulfil his promises to Nigerians.
What is more, the president should not let his administration be a rags-to-riches (not, rag-to-riches) story for corrupt politicians and public servants. The commander-in-chief of the armed forces must be concerned about the country as a whole and not just his tribespeople (not, tribepeople/tribe people), the Yoruba (all Yorubas are collectively called “the Yoruba”, not “the Yorubas”).
The president should avoid having square pegs in round holes. If you describe someone as a square peg in a round hole, you mean that they are doing something that does not suit them. Bola Ahmed Tinubu must engage the country’s political elite (not, elites) in order to move Nigeria forward.
Read also: Can President Tinubu salvage Awolowo, Azikwe, Balewa and Nigeria?
The president must avoid like the plague (not, avoid like a plague) those who have cooked the books (not, the book) in the past. If you say that someone has cooked the books, you mean that they have changed figures or a written record in order to deceive people.
Not only that, the president has to be prudent as the country’s account is already in the red (not, in red). The situation on the ground (not, on ground) does not warrant any form of recklessness. He must, therefore, frown on/upon (not, frown at) wastage.
He must not disappoint the citizens who see him like a godsend (not, godsent), so he must immediately buckle down (not, buckle up) to his duties to elevate the country. Note that if you buckle down to something, you start working seriously at it.
Away from that, citizens should be able to get secure (not secured) jobs. If you describe something, such as a job, as secure, it means it is certain not to change or end. The government must do something about the many low-paid (or “low-paying” in American English) jobs, especially in the private sector.
The provision of infrastructure (as an uncountable noun or “infrastructures” as a plural countable noun) must get urgent intervention from the president. Finally, the president must see to it that riff-raff (not, riff-raffs) are kept off the streets throughout the country.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
God bless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu!
God bless Nigerians!
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
