The spokesperson to Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has revealed why the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was announced in Hausa.
A viral clip of the Minister speaking in Hausa language had gathered mixed reaction on social media, as some argued that the action of Malami saying by his actions, he gave preference to one ethnic group above another.
However, speaking with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Dr. Umar Gwandu, the Minister’s spokesperson, said his principal first addressed the media in English language but later spoke in Hausa following the request of international media stations, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) who broadcast their programmes in Hausa.
He said after speaking in English, the stations had appealed to the Minister to also speak in Hausa language for the effect of soundbite.
“If you have any journalist who attended the press conference, you can call him to verify. He (Malami) first spoke in English language but because there was BBC Hausa and other international media stations that broadcast their programmes in Hausa language at that press conference, these stations asked for insert because of the essence of soundbite and the minister obliged them by speaking in Hausa. Radio station is different from newspaper or television.
“The Minister spoke in Hausa, which is one of the three major languages in Nigeria because he understood and can speak the language. He would have done the same if he can speak Igbo and Yoruba too. Non-English speakers should not be denied access to news,” he said.
Kanu, who was brought to court on Tuesday for the continuation of his trial shortly after he was intercepted by security operations, sought the permission of Justice Binta Nyako to address the court and present his side of the story.
He then told the court that his house was unlawfully invaded by security men with his life seriously threatened.
The self-acclaimed Biafran leader further alleged that he would have been killed along with others on the day of the invasion, if not for the wisdom he applied to jump out of the country.
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