From Victor Osula, Abuja
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami
In a swift response to criticism arising from his statements in Hausa language after he had addressed the press on the rearrest if proscribed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami on Thursday, clarified the air.
He said he merely obeyed the request of the BBC which also broadcast news in Hausa language
Umar Gwandu, the Minister’s spokesperson told newsmen on Thursday that Malami 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.
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