Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has called on Nigerians to speak Nigerian languages in a bid to preserve the culture and heritage of the country.
Omokri mentioned that many Nigerian languages are going into extinction because the populace has opted to speak the English language at the detriment of local Nigerian languages.
In a statement on his verified X page on Wednesday, the social media influencer advised Nigerians to speak their Nigerian language to people of their ethnic extraction.
Omokri, the staunch advocate of ‘Buy the naira to grow the naira,’ advised Nigerians to stop borrowing the culture of the Europeans.
Omokri’s statement reads, “If you are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, or Ijaw, etc., and you meet another Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, or Ijaw person, speak your language to them. Only talk to them in English or another tongue if they can’t speak Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, or Ijaw.
“And even if you are not Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, or Ijaw, etc., and you can speak those languages, speak them when you meet a native speaker of those tongues. Even if we must borrow a language and culture, let us borrow from Nigeria rather than Europe.
“And be eager to teach others your language. Don’t try to keep them from knowing your language because you want to use it as a business advantage.
“Almost all native languages in Nigeria are dying, except Yoruba and Hausa. Why? Because the typical Yoruba and Hausa don’t care if you are offended, if they meet each other, they don’t try to act posh and speak English through their noses.
“They will get down with their fellow kinsmen in their language. And because they have kept their language, their language is keeping them.
“Why do you think power and wealth in Nigeria revolve between the Yoruba and the Hausa/Fulani like a ping-pong game? If you cannot keep your culture, why should others entrust you with power or their commonwealth? It is better to borrow money than to borrow a culture. Money is just paper. But your culture is your life.”
