Ex-Minister: Nigeria Doesn’t Need France to Address Niger Republic’s Stability

A former Nigerian minister states that the country can manage issues in Niger Republic without interference from France, urging caution in diplomatic engagements.

The former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected allegations made by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of Niger Republic. Tchiani accused Nigeria of collaborating with France and terrorist groups to destabilize his country in West Africa.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Fani-Kayode contended that Nigeria would not need help from France or any terrorist groups if it decided to destabilize Niger.

“If Nigeria intended to destabilize the Niger Republic, I believe we could do so without relying on France or any terrorist organization,” Fani-Kayode remarked.

He claimed that Western powers have supported terrorist groups in the West African region for the past 15 years, emphasizing that Nigeria has suffered at the hands of these organizations and would never cooperate with them.

“I have consistently argued that Western powers are responsible for the terrorist groups affecting the West African region over the past 15 years. For a decade, I have publicly shared this belief and provided my reasons,” he stated.

The former minister criticized Tchiani’s claims that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were collaborating with France to support terrorism in Niger, calling the allegations unfounded and inflammatory.

Fani-Kayode dismissed Tchiani’s serious claims as immature and false, stating that the allegations suggesting President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bribed by France to create unrest in Niger Republic are baseless. He also rejected accusations that the Nigerian government is colluding with France to fund a terrorist group for similar purposes or hosting French military bases within Nigeria, describing these statements as absurd and deceitful.

He cautioned the Nigerien leader to avoid making provocative remarks that might strain relations between the two nations.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, should be cautious about provoking our anger with his unreasonable statements. He must remember that the combined defense budgets of his country, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, amount to less than 25% of Nigeria’s,” he remarked.

Fani-Kayode called on the Nigerian government to contemplate “more extreme measures” if the allegations from Niger continue, stating that Nigeria is under no obligation to exercise restraint in response to these provocations.