Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has condemned the recent claims made by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of Niger Republic. Tchiani accused Nigeria of working with France to destabilize Niger, alleging that President Tinubu had accepted money from France to set up a military base in Nigeria. Bwala, however, called these accusations baseless and part of a deliberate campaign to stir up unrest in Northern Nigeria.

Tchiani made these allegations in a public interview, speaking in Hausa, a language widely spoken in Northern Nigeria. Bwala believes the use of this language was intentional, aiming to provoke tension in the region. He explained that Tchiani’s claims are part of a desperate attempt to divert attention from the internal struggles in Niger, including economic challenges and political instability.

Bwala stressed that these false claims are designed to create division and bad blood in Northern Nigeria, particularly against President Tinubu. He criticized Tchiani for resorting to lies and propaganda at a time when the Nigerien leader is under pressure.

In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, also rejected the allegations, calling them unfounded. Bwala reminded everyone of Nigeria’s long history of leadership in West Africa and its commitment to fostering peaceful relations with its neighbors.

The Nigerian government remains focused on strengthening regional ties and addressing the real challenges facing the West African region, despite these attempts at creating political tension.