Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has joined the debate surrounding a viral video of businessman Tony Elumelu correcting a graduate trainee who addressed him by his first name.
The video, which has attracted attention online, was recorded during a UBA event and showed the trainee greeting Elumelu with the words, “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu interrupted the greeting and asked her to address him as “Mr Elumelu.”
He also explained that he did not subscribe to what he described as “that kind of oyibo life,” apparently referring to the practice of addressing senior colleagues or people in authority by their first names.
The exchange quickly generated reactions on social media, with some Nigerians backing Elumelu’s position on workplace etiquette and respect for seniority.
Others, however, questioned whether the correction was necessary, arguing that using someone’s first name is not necessarily disrespectful in every professional environment.
Sowore has now weighed in on the controversy, taking a different angle in his criticism of the businessman.
Sowore Questions ‘Tony’ and ‘TOE’
In a social media post, Sowore questioned the distinction between addressing Elumelu as “Tony” and using “TOE”, another name he said the businessman accepts.
“Don’t call me Tony, call me Mr. Elumelu or ‘TOE,’” Sowore wrote while reacting to the incident.
He went on to refer to his previous criticism of Elumelu, saying:
“When I said Tony Elumelu is a content creator with little or no intellect, his supporters were enraged.”
Sowore then questioned what he described as the difference between the two forms of address.
“Now, what exactly is the difference between being called ‘Tony’ and ‘TOE’? Much ado about nothing!” he wrote.
The activist concluded his reaction with the popular Nigerian expression “money miss road,” suggesting that he considered the incident an unnecessary display of status or importance.
Debate Continues Online
The exchange between Elumelu and the trainee has continued to generate discussion online, with Nigerians expressing different views about workplace etiquette, hierarchy and how senior executives should be addressed.
While some believe employees should observe formal titles when speaking to senior executives, others argue that workplace culture is changing and that using first names does not automatically amount to disrespect.
Sowore’s intervention has added another dimension to the discussion, particularly because of his criticism of Elumelu’s preferred forms of address.
For now, the viral video continues to attract reactions across social media.
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