The Nigerian presidency has accused the Nigerien leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, of using Nigeria as a distraction from his failures.
The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who made the remark on Friday, said General Tchiani has been unable to stabilize his country since taking over power through a military coup and ousting the government of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Olusegun added that projecting white lies about Nigeria is Tchiani’s way of distracting the people of his country from his failures.
“In case you are wondering why the Nigerien President is obsessed with Nigeria, after seizing power, he has been unable to stabilise the ship of state. Projecting white lies about Nigeria is the only thing that can keep the Nigerien people distracted,” the presidential media aide wrote on X.
Naija News recalls Niger and Nigeria have had a strained diplomatic relationship following the military coup in Niger and Nigeria’s push for a restoration of democratic rule in the country.
Nigeria was recently accused by its neighbouring nation, Niger Republic, of destabilizing the country by offering help to foreign countries and officials of the former regime in Niger.
The allegation was made by the foreign minister of junta-ruled Niger, Bakary Yaou Sangare, in a statement read on national television last Thursday.
The government of Nigeria has constantly denied the allegations and most recently on Thursday, the government of Nigeria again dismissed allegations by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilize his country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the accusations as baseless and an attempt to deflect attention from the challenges facing Tchiani’s administration.
The government emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as ECOWAS Chairman, has consistently pursued diplomatic engagement with Niger, even after the military coup that disrupted democratic governance in the country.
