Many Nigerians apparently conflate President Muhammadu Buhari’s past and present when addressing him on occasions.
So the federal government has released a new directive on how he should be addressed .
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustaph, gave the directive in a circular sent to ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government.
“Government has observed with concern the inconsistent manner in which the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria is addressed during Official and Private functions. It has therefore become necessary to have a standard format for addressing him at such formal occasions,” Mr. Mustapha wrote in the circular dated January 26.
“To this end, Mr. President shall henceforth be addressed as ‘‘MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.’’ except in purely Armed Forces Programmes, where “COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA” will be added.
“All concerned persons should accordingly be guided and ensure strict compliance with the contents of this circular.”
The military title has an undertone of dictatorship — something many like to refer to when rights groups like the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch release their reports that always knock the APC government.