Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed claims by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, that Nigeria is working with France to destabilize his country, calling them baseless propaganda.
He stated that the allegations were intended to provoke Northern Nigeria against President Bola Tinubu.
Bwala noted that the military leader intentionally used a local northern language to deliver his message.
A reporter reports that Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, made these allegations during an interview on Wednesday.
Speaking in Hausa, Tchiani accused France of negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilize Niger.
He further claimed that France had paid a significant sum to President Bola Tinubu to set up a military base in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, promptly dismissed the allegations, calling them unfounded.
In a video shared on his X page on Friday, Bwala also condemned the claims as baseless propaganda aimed at stirring unrest and turning Northern Nigeria against President Tinubu.
“Yesterday, I saw a video filled with despicable propaganda from the military leader of Niger Republic targeting the President of Nigeria. This is typical behavior during military takeovers,” he stated.
“The honeymoon is over; he has failed to tackle the economic challenges in his country, and as things fall apart, he has resorted to spreading falsehoods and propaganda against Nigeria in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.
“The language used by the military leader is quite offensive and seems to reflect his intentions—possibly in collaboration with some politicians in Nigeria, though it’s uncertain.
“The ultimate goal appears to be to incite unrest and sow division in Northern Nigeria against the President,” he said.
Bwala highlighted Nigeria’s enduring leadership role in West Africa and its dedication to strengthening bilateral ties with neighboring nations.
