I got is write up on my facebook by a friend and i just have to share it

Gambari Mariam(author)
I always make sure I read people's comments after
reading anything on the social media. This has made
me come to the conclusion that, comments are an
integral part of any piece of writing. They open your
eyes to other people's views and sort of form a 'mini
debate'.
While reading one of such comments, I came across
one that said GMB has an 'Arabic' accent and that his
is not intelligent. This comment made me do a double
take, l had to check the name, and it led me to the
conclusion that the writer is from south eastern
Nigeria. The comment made me realise that, the
individual lacks the knowledge of other cultures and,
he must think that accent is a measure of human
intelligence.
Accent is not a measure of human intelligence but an
interference of the mother tongue on a foreign
language. I just don't know why Nigerians give too
much importance to the English language at risk of the
erosion and extinction of our 'mother tongues'. Let's
bear it in mind that no matter how 'good' you may think
your English accent is, you can never speak like the
'English people'. While we need to understand and be
able to speak English since it is our lingual franca, we
must take pride in speaking our 'mother tongues'.
This topic is particularly personal to me because I
come from a part of ilorin , Kwara State, that prides
itself on being Fulani but can not speak fulfude. Our
forefathers obviously got to Ilorin, met the Yorubas,
learnt and adopted their language and culture but
forgot one important thing, which is, to pass down their
own language and culture to their children. What a
shame!
One other thing that Nigerians need to do is get to
know the 'Nigerian cultures'. Travel round the country
and read about the cultures in Nigeria so you don't end
up saying that a Nigerian who obviously has one of the
typical Northern Nigerian accents, has an 'Arabic
accent'. I can boldly say that I have a good knowledge
of the Nigerian cultures and this is because I grew up
in the west of this country, Studied largely in the North,
and served in the East.
Serving in the eastern part of this country, was an eye
opener. If you are a Muslim, trust me, you will get a
cultural shock!. While I was there, I met people who
asked me why I am practicing 'Hausa religion' and told
me to my face that only masquerades in their villages
'cover up' like this. But believe me, a lot of them did
not mean it as an insult. A fellow corp member that
wears hijab was even asked about the church she
attends. I think they probably were confused if she was
a Catholic sister or not. A lot of interesting things
happen when u mix with other cultures.
I will conclude this by saying: be proud of your mother
tongue and the diversity of the Nigerian culture!!

Ekkita Fulfulde @OP if you are a Fulani from Kwara state there is no excuse for you not knowing the language.(well there is since it's mainly a Yoruba speaking state) but still learn it

Also @ Buhari having an Arabic accent, that's the most ridiculous and laughable thing I have ever heard. Obviously the south easterner who wrote that tidbit has no idea how Arabs sound.

Sometimes I just smile when people laugh at Ibadan people when speaking English, English is a borrowed language fa.