By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
In June 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari delivered his Sallah message in the Hausa language. Nigerians were outraged that the President would address them in a sectional language. They soon moved on thinking it won’t happen again.
On June 30 this year, Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, repeated the act. He addressed a press conference to announce the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the fugitive leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), in the Hausa language again.
All the major news outlets, both print and electronic, where at the press conference held in Abuja.
At the press conference, Malami was flanked by the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi and the Inspector General of the Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba. They are all native Hausa speakers, except for many of the journalists who simply wondered what was going on.
But Nigerians on social media are interpreting why Malami would announce to a diversified audience the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu in Hausa language.
TheNiche compiled some of the reactions from Twitter.
@jacksonpbn says: “Hausa Language is now the official language in Nigeria. What is the sense of using Hausa Language to announce the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu? Why didn’t Yoruba and Igbo speakers also enjoy the opportunity of hearing the arrest in their languages.”
@von_Bismack said: “Malami announced the Re-arrest of Nnamdi kanu in Hausa language, a language which is not the official language of the country. When did Hausa become the lingua franca of this country? We keep digging lower every blessed day.”
@Oluomoofderby said: “The funny part is you will still see some APC Yoruba E-thugs defending Malami. Malami speaking in Hausa should be a wakeup call to all of us.”
@theonly1acre said: “I know the Bar exams are tough. Can I know how Malami’s made it through Law school? Could there be a marking scheme Nigerians are not aware of?”
@Alaye_100 said: “There is a very simple reason why Malami announced Nnamdi Kanu’s capture in Hausa. It was consciously done to annoy and incite.”
@OkeStalyf said: “Malami is indirectly telling you that Nigeria belongs to the North and they’re not afraid to let you know.”