A video has emerged showing Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minster of Justice, Abubakar Malami announcing the arrest and extradition of Nnamdi Kanu in Hausa language.
The video has sparked controversy in the public space as people question why he did not make the address in country’s lingua franca, the English Language.
In analysing the video, TVC News analysts said that in as much as 3 of Nigeria’s over 230 languages, Hausa Yoruba and Ibo are recognised in the constitution and could be freely spoken in official functions, they expected the Minister’s speech to have been translated spontaneously.
Questions arise also if he was addressing or working only for the Hausa citizens of the country in Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.
There are also questions around the fact that Malami is the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not a section of the country.
According to Reuben Abati, “the lingua Franca of Nigeria is English language. If a public official elects to speak in a local language, then Nigerians naturally, would be concerned.
“The concern of course would be sectionalism.The title of Abubakar Malami is Attorney General of the Federation.
“For him to resort to speaking in a language belonging to a section of the country, then he needs to be reminded that he is not Attorney General of Northern Nigeria where Hausa is a general language, that people can understand.“
Abati recalled that there was once President Muhammadu himself made a national broadcast in Hausa language leading to a furore in the public space.
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Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation