Nnamdi Kanu’s Arrest: Why I Spoke Hausa Language During Announcement — AGF Malami

Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,
on Thursday, shed light on why he announced the rearrest of Nnamdi
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) in Hausa language.

Some Nigerians who saw the viral video clip where the Minister
was speaking in Hausa language had condemned the action of Malami
saying by his actions, he gave preference to one ethnic group above
another.

However, speaking with newsmen, 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.

Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,
on Thursday, shed light on why he announced the rearrest of Nnamdi
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) in Hausa language.

Some Nigerians who saw the viral video clip where the Minister
was speaking in Hausa language had condemned the action of Malami
saying by his actions, he gave preference to one ethnic group above
another.

However, speaking with newsmen, 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.