The United States Ambassador to
Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, during an interview with WAZOBIA FM spoke in pidgin english throughout. He was asked
about Nigeria’s controversial new anti-gay legislation and whether the U.S.
might impose sanctions and he said in pidgin: "The U.S. government no say sanction go dey for Nigeria,
because of same-sex palava-o,”, meaning that the U.S. is not going to impose sanctions on
Nigeria for passing a law criminalising same-sex marriages.
Interviewed by Omotunde “Lolo” David, the US ambassador said he chose to learn and speak pidgin because sometimes “you get stuck in
this government-dealing-with-government rut. But you have to remember that your job is also to get out and
understand the country and the people,”
One next year’s much-anticipated elections in Nigeria, he said again in pidgin: “Make I tell you say U.S. no get any candidate for mind. The
only ting wey go sweet us be say make the election dey transparent, credible
and concluded. Make Nigerians pick candidates wey
go sweet their belle, wey go do well well for them.”
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