The Arewa Youth Federation (AYF) has alleged that certain Nigerian politicians are leveraging the political crisis in Niger Republic to destabilize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and sow discord across the country.
AYF President, Adamu Kabir Matazu, disclosed this in a statement on January 9, 2025, accusing the politicians of spreading disinformation and playing ethnic cards, particularly in Northern Nigeria, to fuel divisions.
“The crisis in Niger has become a tool for these unpatriotic politicians who lost out in the 2023 elections to undermine President Tinubu’s efforts to deliver democratic dividends,” Matazu stated.
The political turmoil in Niger began in July 2023, following a military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, which deteriorated relations between Niger and Nigeria. Recently, Tchiani accused Nigeria of hosting French military bases aimed at destabilizing Niger, an allegation dismissed by the AYF as baseless propaganda designed to manipulate public opinion.
Matazu claimed the group’s investigations revealed that certain political actors were using the Niger crisis and the diplomatic rift between Niamey and ECOWAS as a means to discredit the Tinubu administration.
“These politicians are investing in hybrid information warfare, spreading fake news and disinformation to exploit ethnic sentiments, particularly among northern voters,” he said. Matazu further described Tchiani’s use of the Hausa language in a recent interview as a calculated attempt to galvanize opposition to Tinubu in Nigeria’s northern region.
He warned that the goal of these politicians was to frustrate Tinubu’s reforms and maintain influence, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject divisive tactics that could destabilize the nation and the region.
The AYF called on stakeholders to support President Tinubu’s efforts in fostering unity and delivering good governance while ensuring that external and internal threats to Nigeria’s stability are effectively countered.
