[MUST WATCH] So, at the Ministerial briefing on #COVID19, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Seriki chose to address the nation in Hausa language. Following in his footsteps, the correspondent of Igbo service of Radio Nigeria posed her questions in Igbo language. I love this. Watch:

Here’s Amarachi Nwanguma of Igbo Service of Radio Nigeria, posing her question in Igbo. I love this lady!!

English remains our lingua franca. It betrays arrogance and lack of courtesy for a Minister to address the country in his native language. Notice that the sign language interpreter gave up the moment our sister started speaking in Igbo. He had no problem interpreting Hausa.

Hadi Seriki, who I once met in a flight, comes across as a knowledgeable and well educated gentleman with good command of English. I’ve no idea why he chose to speak in Hausa in this occasion.

Amarachi directed her questions, thankfully, to officials of Igbo descent. What if none of the Team members is Igbo, would they bother with an interpreter? Btw, she’s perfectly in order. Since her audience is Igbo, it makes perfect sense that both question and answer are in Igbo

Just watch: they may soon ban use of vernacular in the briefings. There’s nothing Nigeria dreads like Igbo consciousness. Just watch!