SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, (THEWILL) – The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere has stated that the audio tape released at the weekend by the Presidency to debunk insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari had lost his ability to speak properly caused more damage than good, adding that it should have been more credible.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “The audio evidence provided should have been more credible in this age and time when it is easy to do all kind of things with voice on computer.
“However, whatever purpose the audio message was intended for was damaged because it was done in Hausa Language given our multi-ethnicity.”
Also picking holes with the choice of language in the audio was a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, who said on Channels Television that it appeared as if the President was only speaking to the Muslim community in the northern part of the country.
His words, “In the first place, it’s reassuring that the President has finally spoken to Nigerians through that audio message but I think it could have been better handled.
“The President could have spoken to all Nigerians in the official language. I mean the lingua franca, which is the English language. So that message appears restricted to the Muslim community in the northern part of the country.
“That apart, it’s okay that the President is wishing the country well. He is praying for peace. He is also thanking Nigerians for their prayers over his state of health.”
This was as former aide to then President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, wondered why the President opted to address Nigerians in the Hausa language over English that could be understood by all Nigerians.
He said in a statement: “In a country whose official language is English, President Muhammadu Buhari broadcast his Sallah message in Hausa!
“Would Trump (whose origin is German) address America in German? So what about all those Nigerians who can’t speak Hausa?
“Ideally, the president should have spoken in English first, then if he feels like it, he may also speak in Hausa. The way he has now spoken only in Hausa makes it seem as if he is only concerned with those who gave him 97 per cent of the votes while those who gave him 5 per cent can take a hike!
“How would the rest of the country have felt if President Olusegun Obasanjo had released a Christmas broadcast to Nigerians in Yoruba or if President Goodluck Jonathan had done so in Ogbia?
“How can a national leader address Nigerians in a sectional language? Nigeria has never had a leader as divisive as Buhari! There is no difference between President Buhari and Nnamdi Kanu.
“President Buhari is the President of all Nigeria. He is not the President of only those who can speak Hausa!
“This is an outrage! (Late) President Yar’Adua also spoke to the BBC News by phone. He is Fulani, like President Buhari. Yet he spoke in English because he was president of all of us.”
THEWILL recalls President Buhari had left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on May 7. The audio message makes it the first time Nigerians will be hearing his voice since he travelled abroad for the treatment of an undisclosed ailment.
About the Author
