The Presidency has refuted the claims by the military leader of Niger Republic, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is colluding with France to destabilise the West African nation.
PUNCH Online reports that Tchiani had, in an interview on Wednesday, alleged that France is negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.
Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, claimed that France made a “substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu” to establish a military base in Nigeria.
However, in a video posted on his X page on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said Tchiani’s claims are baseless and despicable.
The presidential aide added that the allegations are designed to create chaos and violence and incite bad blood in northern Nigeria against Tinubu.
Bwala, however, asked Nigerians to disregard Tchiani’s false and divisive claims and support the Tinubu government.
He said, “Yesterday I came across a video, a despicable propaganda piece by the military head of state of the Niger Republic against the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and this is what you often see with military interregnum.
“The honeymoon is over; he has not been able to address economic situations in his country; everything is turning against him, and in the desperate gasp for breath, he decided to resort to cheap false lies and propaganda against Nigeria.”
The presidential aide noted Nigeria’s longstanding leadership role in West Africa and its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.
He added, “Nigeria, over the years, has maintained its leadership in the West African sub-region, and as a country, we have not only developed but maintained bilateral relationships with our neighbours and have been of tremendous help to our neighbouring countries.
“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 an absolute interest in the national interest and security of Nigeria will ever take part in that kind of negative rhetoric.
“Probably in cahoots with politicians in Nigeria, you never know, but the whole idea is to create chaos and bad blood in northern Nigeria against the president. First of all, his lies and propaganda are false, as can be seen by all. Nigeria has never had to give its own land as a military base to any country.
“Nigeria is a nation that has its own capacity to protect its citizens, and every nation has its own struggle in a bid to safeguard the country. 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.”
