I am forced, barely after a short spell of my piece on the emerging and sustained trend of the abused and misused of the phrase, ‘flag bearer’ to describe the ongoing political activities in Nigeria where the two main political parties, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), and of course, the Labour Party, amongst others have picked their presidential candidates to fly the respective party’s flag ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Yes! Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Mr. Peter Obi, erstwhile Governor of Anambra State have all scaled through the ballot and are set to fly the flags of their parties not as ‘flag bearers’, but as ‘standard-bearers’ or ‘torchbearers.’ I have to emphasize here that the individual or group of persons could fly the flag of the country he/she or they represent in a sporting events.
As I did explain in my write-up before now, the noun ‘flag’, which also has a verb form of it, ‘flagged’, ‘flagging’ is said to be a piece of cloth, described as rectangular in shape, with a distinctive design, flown from the pole to represent a country, political party etc., the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary insists. To fly the flag or keep the flag flying could also mean a show of support of one’s country or any other affiliation in politics or socio-cultural groups. A flag can also be lowered as a sign of surrender, relinquishment of power or command, and a show of respect for the dead. I stated also that one can flag someone or something down, to signal usually with the hand a car, for example. But in politics, as it is being played out today in Nigeria, with the elected presidential candidates of the parties involved about to release their manifestos for public scrutiny, the expression, ‘flag bearer’ now attached to the names of the candidates is a misnomer that should not be mentioned, the purists and masters of the language cry out loud. It has become pertinent to issue the red card to the journalist or the reporter, and even the editor or the gatekeeper who still indulge in churning out a disgraced phrase that should be blotted out of circulation.
As I said earlier, and I repeat it again, the media writer should stop mimicking the politician, his or her acolyte, in this case when they throw up certain verbal jargons, they should be ignored. The journalist, by training is expected to use or engage the right words or phrase to correct some of these foul expressions thrown at them by the flamboyant politician who often crave for pomposity, speaking above the head and understanding of the electorates, just to buy them over. Most of the media houses, from my survey, unfortunately, are stuck to the home grown phrase, ‘flag bearer’ because they copy from what the so-called leading stations who believe it is their house or office style that should not be tampered with. They bluntly refuse to obey the simple reason that the language of mass communication goes with set standards that must never be compromised on the flimsy excuse that English can be domesticated to suit the Nigerian situation. But I say emphatic no! Just as the pragmatists would disagree with the proponents of this school of thought.
On the reverse side, I am on same page with just a few of the electronic and print media outfits that have adopted and kept faith with the right use of the expression, ‘standard-bearer’ to describe those flying the flags of their parties in the fast approaching 2023 Governorship and Presidential polls. This particular Radio network, public one for that matter, has impressed me over time, including its Lagos based station that I never forget to listen to the news whenever I have the opportunity to so do. The station speaks my mind in the choice of words and style of presentation, especially so for the On-Air personalities and shows anchors. The ‘standard-bearer’ is associated with the man or individual that flies the party’s flag at election, or the leader of the movement, or a cause. The good reference materials such as the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary is quite frank about this to tell us that the phrase, ‘flag bearer’ cannot stand and can never be a substitute or a synonym of ‘standard-bearer’ when describing the person flying the flag of the political party or a movement.
Again, to avoid sounding repetitive, thereby boring the listening or reading audience, the statement, ‘torchbearer’ comes handy and could be deployed as a substitute to ‘standard-bearer’ phrase. The noun, ‘torchbearer’ is stated by the dictionary as someone who carries a torch, one who inspires and leads others to achieve set goals. Now that the presidential candidates of the political parties have been unveiled, and of course, the governorship of the approved parties, down to the councillors at the grassroots, get your PVC and vote for that person who you feel would change the narratives. Don’t sit on the fence.
