The Presidency has dismissed claims by Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing President Bola Tinubu of colluding with France to destabilize his country.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, described the allegations as baseless propaganda, designed to create chaos and incite bad blood in northern Nigeria against President Tinubu.
“The choice of language used by the military leader of Niger is quite instructive of what his intentions are, probably in cahoots with politicians in Nigeria, you never know, but the whole idea is to create chaos and bad blood in the northern Nigeria against the President,” Bwala said in a video message posted on his verified X account @BwalaDaniel on Friday.
He criticised Tchiani’s comments, describing them as a desperate attempt to distract from the challenges facing his regime.
“The honeymoon is over; he has not been able to address the economic situation in his country. Everything is turning against him, and in a desperate gasp for breath, he decided to resort to cheap lies and propaganda against Nigeria,” he stated.
The Presidential aide stated that Nigeria’s longstanding leadership role in West Africa and its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.
“Over the years, Nigeria has maintained its leadership in the West African sub-region… We have been of tremendous help to our neighbouring countries,” he said.
Addressing the allegations directly, Bwala denied emphatically that Nigeria had always provided land for a foreign military base.
“Nigeria is a nation that has its own capacity to protect its citizens… We are well capable and able to safeguard our country, and we’re doing it in this administration,” he affirmed.
He urged Nigerians to disregard Tchiani’s claims, labeling them as false and divisive.
“It is lies, and he chose a local language in the North because he wants to rile up the North against the President. I don’t think any politician in Nigeria who has absolute interest in the national interest and security of Nigeria will ever take part in that kind of negative rhetoric,” Bwala asserted.
The Presidential aide described Tchiani’s comments a reflection of his regime’s failure to govern effectively.
“It is becoming clear that the honeymoon he had with his people is over. He probably doesn’t have a plan for his people and has resorted to that cheap blackmail. It is false, and nobody should take him seriously,” he said.
The federal government, through Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had earlier refuted the Nigerien leader’s allegations.
DailySun